How much more evidence do Americans need that Trump is a vengeful, dangerous criminal?

Even if you love humour and have a keen sense of it, there comes a time when things stop being funny. What is happening in the United States is not funny. People are dying, and there are serious threats of many more people dying. The United States, and democracy, face existential threats. Unbelievably, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that the commander-in-chief of the United States could hand over military secrets to the (other) most dangerous thugs on earth, with whom he is very chummy, or use those military secrets himself against his own country. Think about it. Not funny.

Just as shocking to me as the armed insurrection against the United States Congress that occurred on January 6 is the willingness of Americans, any Americans, to allow Trump to continue in office for even one more day, let alone to the end of his term. With the exception of genocide, what could possibly be a more serious crime or act of treason by a sitting President than to incite an armed, murderous insurrection against Congress on the basis of lies that have been rejected by virtually every legal institution in the United States? Institutions populated by thousands upon thousands of patriotic Americans of all political stripes who have listened to and considered the assertions of Trump and his supporters for two months and utterly rejected them on the facts and on sound principles.

There is no doubt that Trump committed a very serious crime. The record of Trump’s words and conduct over the last four years is replete with evidence of incitement (“stand down and stand by”). To determine whether Trump intended that his words and conduct would in fact incite violence (a legal requirement), it’s not necessary to look at the four-year record — only Trump’s words and actions during the insurrection. In those moments Trump’s ego betrayed him, as it always does when he puffs his chest in belief that he has exacted revenge on those he perceives as having been disloyal to him.

Trump watched on television as the mob overtook Congress, reportedly with considerable delight. When his senior advisers told him that he needed to get on television, condemn and call off the attackers and call in assistance for the Capitol police, he declined.

Obviously, Trump knew that there were hundreds of lawmakers in Congress at the time, including his own VP Mike Pence, who were there to undertake the counting of electoral college votes and confirm the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Trump had incited his followers to stop this vote, which is normally nothing but a legal formality. Trump’s strategy had zero chance of affecting the outcome of the election, as many advisors, including Pence, had told him. Pence had no authority or power to reject the count, and Trump knew it.

While the siege was in progress and the lives of Congressmen and women in serious jeopardy, Trump posted the following tweet:

“Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify. USA demands the truth!”

At no time during or after the insurrection did Trump show or express any concern for Pence or any Members of Congress, or for any other civilians in the building. Pence’s family was in attendance, as likely were the families of other members.

Also as the riot continued to rage, Trump called Tommy Tuberville, a newly elected Republican Senator who was among several that Trump had encouraged to object to the counting of certain electoral college votes for the purpose of delaying the count. Trump insisted that Tuberville continue and escalate his obstruction. Trump had difficulty reaching Tuberville because he and other senators were at that very moment barricaded in the Senate chamber, fearing for their lives, as the mob overtook the Capitol building.

No time, however, to call Pence, or anyone else, out of concern for their safety.

After several hours, senior advisors to Trump ultimately persuaded him to say something publicly to quell the violence. Trump issued a short video statement directly addressing his followers, telling them simply to “go home”. He ended the statement by telling his followers: “We love you. You’re very special.”

As the insurrection was finally contained, with four people dead, Trump posted the following on Twitter:

“These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously and viciously stripped away from giant patriots who have been badly and unfairly treated for so long. Go home with love and in peace. Remember this day forever!”

“These are the things and events that happen”. No condemnation of the insurrectionists, no words of comfort to the nation or the families of the victims, only a scolding admonishment of those who refused to support his illegal fantasy, blaming them for the national crisis that he deliberately fabricated and incited. If Pence or others had been murdered (which we now know was in fact the mob’s intent), Trump would have passed it off as simply “what happens” to those who cross him. The ultimate revenge. Exactly what he wanted.

Rewind: On March 4, 2020, after it became apparent that former AG Jeff Sessions, who Trump had fired and disparaged for his “disloyalty” in refusing to quash the Mueller inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 election, would face a runoff for his former seat in Senate, Trump posted the following on Twitter:

“This is what happens to someone who loyally gets appointed Attorney General of the United States and then doesn’t have the wisdom or courage to stare down and end the phony Russia Witch Hunt. Recuses himself on FIRST DAY in office, and the Mueller Scam begins!”

“This is what happens”, indeed. Revenge.

On the evening of January 6, reportedly under threat of resignation from senior advisors and advice about the jeopardy to his presidency and to him personally that had been created by the insurrection, Trump issued a statement (which he asked someone else to write) condemning the violence and acknowledging Biden’s win, without mentioning him by name. As one commentator put it, the statement had “all the sincerity of a hostage video”.

So, America, what happens when a sitting President deliberately incites a violent insurrection against Congress with the intention of punishing those whom he perceives as having been disloyal to him by not following his orders to overthrow democracy on the basis of his lies? He continues in office as if nothing has happened? Are you kidding me? Five people are dead. If more people die, those who have failed to show Trump “what happens” in response to such heinous crimes will also have blood on their hands.

Remove Trump now under the 25th Amendment. That’s what needs to happen.