The new book by media expert and former U.S. Navy Chief Malcolm Nance, titled They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency, has ignited a contentious debate within the United States. In this work, Nance warns that the threat posed to America by the “Trump Insurgency” far surpasses the dangers associated with groups like Al-Qaeda or ISIS. This insurrection, abbreviated as TITUS (Trump Insurgency in the United States), symbolizes a precarious moment for American democracy, which has faced significant erosion since former President Donald Trump assumed power. Nance’s book can be categorized within the framework of counter-terrorism intelligence, as it forewarns of a potential revolt led by Trump, accompanied by an explosive wave of terrorist attacks and armed confrontations aimed at dismantling democracy and solidifying a dictatorship under his influence.
A Catastrophic Period
Nance traces the roots of this ominous threat in the U.S. to Trump’s presidency, which can be understood through several key points. Firstly, Nance links Trump’s reign to an effort to establish a monarchical form of governance. He references his 2018 publication, The Plot to Destroy Democracy, where he discusses what he terms the “Axis of Authoritarianism.” Nance argues that Trump governed the nation like a king, treating 60% of the populace as subjects, while showing a blatant disregard for the constitutional republic. This behavior, akin to that of a tyrant, was marked by a series of scandals throughout his four years in office—none of which, notably, managed to seriously threaten his incumbency, despite their gravity, as neither the media nor the Republican Party dared to confront him.
Secondly, public sentiment under Trump revealed disturbing trends towards racist policies. The 2020 presidential election underscored widespread discontent towards Trump, yet 40% of American voters believed that they should grant “this sick, racist liar who loves white supremacy” another four years in office to fulfill his promises to make America great again. These supporters, seven million more than in 2016, expressed their approval of his abhorrent stances on immigration in a nation composed largely of immigrants.
Thirdly, Nance highlights a growing skepticism regarding American democracy. He notes that President Biden devoted his life to service, yet Trump loathed him simply because he served as vice president under America’s first black president—an unforgivable sin in Trump’s eyes. Over nearly two years, Trump attempted to undermine Biden’s legitimacy by soliciting foreign powers to help him rig the electoral process. This resulted in an environment reminiscent of a suspension of democracy during the vote-counting process, characterized by fear among Trump’s opponents who anxiously awaited his downfall due to his corruption, futile as that hope was.
The Election Crisis
The 2020 presidential election stands as a pivotal turning point in the annals of American democracy. Nance elaborates on this contention through a series of observations, asserting that November 3, 2020, should have marked a day of triumph for American democracy—signaling the end of a tragic era under Trump’s rule. This event witnessed more than 150 million Americans casting their vote, culminating in Biden’s election, with millions celebrating his victory in historic gatherings reminiscent of the capitulation of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. Nance tweeted, “The election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris was a decision to pull America from a virus-laden wilderness. The nation can breathe again… Donald Trump has hidden.”
He further examines Trump’s orchestration of the “Big Lie” surrounding the election fraud. Trump falsely claimed victory and accused Biden of stealing the election with the assistance of the Chinese Communist Party, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, Iran, and the voting machine firms Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic. These outlandish accusations gained traction, despite their implausibility, thanks to the Republican Party’s growing tolerance for Trump’s fabricated narratives.
The book discusses the Republican Party’s promotion of election fraud claims, pointing out that on November 16, 2020, Trump’s tweets cast doubt on the election results, alleging fraud. His legal team, led by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, claimed that voting machines had rigged the election. Trump himself enumerated supposed electoral fraud instances, from the dismissal of poll observers to the millions of ballots allegedly altered by Democrats, despite the evident falsehoods of these claims—a narrative that soon transformed into accepted “fact” among Trump’s followers.
By early 2021, Trump’s push for states to overturn the electoral results failed spectacularly as Giuliani’s strategy crumbled. On January 3, 2021, Trump pressured Georgia’s officials to overturn his defeat in that state, contending that if he could sway one state, others would follow suit. He convened a delegation from Georgia’s state legislature in vain, while simultaneously orchestrating a phone call with Georgia officials, unaware that Senator Lindsey Graham had urged Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to act regarding Trump’s loss.
In this turbulent landscape, Trump incited a broad revolt against democracy, with his supporters employing force to halt Biden’s election. Despite the Capitol Police’s efforts to contain the situation, many sought to seize the Capitol building, targeting Congress members as their chances dwindled. Rather than marking the end of the Trump era, the election heralded the onset of a insurrection termed the “Trump Insurgency,” which FBI Director Christopher Wray indicated was not an isolated incident but the inception of a movement composed of racists, neo-Nazis, and militias—collectively forming the foundation for a protracted rebellion.
The Trump Insurgency
The defining characteristics of the “Trump Insurgency in the United States” can be summarized in several points. First, this movement seeks to undermine the stability of the state. The U.S. Army and Marine Corps define insurgency as “an organized movement aimed at the overthrow of a constituted government through the use of subversion and armed conflict.” The primary objective of these insurgents is to portray the current U.S. government as ineffective and unable to protect its citizens.
Second, the insurgency endeavors to establish a Trump dynasty as the ruling political system. It manifests as a quasi-military political alliance aiming to leverage political means, instability, and violence to achieve its goals, which encompass reinstating the Trump lineage as the governing authority through a protracted political war predicated on the belief that their party has suffered a significant loss of power.
Third, the insurgency employs a strategy of chaos. It consists of four stages: the first is denying reality, where they refute Biden’s victory; the second involves directly attacking American democracy to manipulate future electoral systems; the third is seeking revenge for the 2020 elections by undermining Biden’s legitimacy; and the fourth entails instilling fear and chaos to extend Trump’s rule through illegal and unconstitutional means, including armed insurgency to facilitate his reinstatement.
Fourth, sustaining the loyalty of billionaires and business elites is crucial. Trump needs to keep these financial supporters from defecting amid the party’s tilt towards extremism, especially given the demographic shifts revealed in 2020, which suggest that competing legally and openly in future elections may be untenable. As such, there is a necessity to assimilate Trump’s personal philosophy of lying, cheating, and election fraud under the guise of restoring balance and fairness, particularly by embracing white nationalist ideologies.
Domestic Terrorism
Nance highlights key features of domestic terrorism, drawing comparisons between the “Trump Insurgency” and prominent terrorist organizations. One significant aspect is the rising trend of white supremacy terrorism in the U.S. In September 2020, FBI Director Christopher Wray affirmed that the most significant threat to the country stems from white supremacist extremism, a violent ideology rooted in racial motives. In 2021, there were 120 arrests linked to domestic terrorism, with notable upticks linked to the intersections of the pandemic, racial justice protests (Black Lives Matter), and the conspiratorial Q-Anon movement.
Nance also likens local extremists to global terrorists, asserting that both share similar trajectories; they pledge loyalty to a charismatic leader, strive to dismantle political norms, and promise an eventual paradise. He posits that contemporary American terrorists bear closer resemblance to ISIS in Iraq and Syria rather than the Ku Klux Klan of yesteryears, albeit lacking the operational capabilities and resources of their international counterparts.
Moreover, he expresses concerns over the rising threat of lone wolves, characterized as the most pressing danger to Americans today. In 2021, Wray indicated that these individuals are often loosely organized, attacking soft targets with easily accessible weapons, driven by either jihadist or domestic impulses. Social media plays a pivotal role in providing them with information and motivation.
Additionally, the emergence of far-right groups, such as the “Proud Boys,” underscores the shifting dynamics. Initially cast as street agitators, they have evolved into violent incarnations reminiscent of the Nazi “Brownshirts,” engaging in clashes at various protests, ranging from Antifa demonstrations to Black Lives Matter rallies.
In conclusion, Nance asserts that American extremists share operational and ideological similarities with foreign terrorist groups. Both ISIS and Al-Qaeda’s methodologies have infiltrated domestic radicalization efforts, spurring local extremists to utilize tactics first popularized by these international terror organizations. Following widespread protests, American militias circulated videos displaying slogans reminiscent of jihadist propaganda. This indicates a dramatic intertwining of domestic and global ideologies, all facilitated by the unregulated access to firearms prevalent in American society over the decades.
Source: Malcolm Nance, They Want to Kill Americans: The Militias, Terrorists, and Deranged Ideology of the Trump Insurgency (New York: St. Martin Press, July 2022).
