As the impeachment proceedings against him continue to move forward, President Donald Trump announced tonight that he believes what is happening is actually an attempted coup of the United States government.
“As I learn more and more each day, I am coming to the conclusion that what is taking place is not an impeachment, it is a COUP, intended to take away the Power of the People, their VOTE, their Freedoms, their Second Amendment, Religion, Military, Border Wall, and their God-given rights as a Citizen of The United States of America.”
….People, their VOTE, their Freedoms, their Second Amendment, Religion, Military, Border Wall, and their God-given rights as a Citizen of The United States of America!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2019
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Per White House policy, tweets made by Trump constitute official statements by the President.
Trump appears to be echoing statements made by Newt Gingrich on Fox News’ show “American Newsroom” with host Sandra Smith earlier today. Gingrich called the push to impeach the President a “legislative coup d’etat.” Gingrich later doubled-down on those statements on Twitter.
We're witnessing a coup d'etat by the Left. The Dems have wanted to impeach President Trump since Election Night. They don't care what they're voting to impeach him on, they just want him out. This is partisan politics at its worst & will hurt the Left. https://t.co/z7AWGlGfTq pic.twitter.com/TnRwEl20iy
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) October 1, 2019
According to 18 U.S. Code § 2385:
“Whoever knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States or the government of any State, Territory, District or Possession thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein, by force or violence, or by the assassination of any officer of any such government; or
Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates, sells, distributes, or publicly displays any written or printed matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any government in the United States by force or violence, or attempts to do so; or
Whoever organizes or helps or attempts to organize any society, group, or assembly of persons who teach, advocate, or encourage the overthrow or destruction of any such government by force or violence; or becomes or is a member of, or affiliates with, any such society, group, or assembly of persons, knowing the purposes thereof—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
If two or more persons conspire to commit any offense named in this section, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.”
News of the tweet spread quickly on Twitter, garnering strong reactions. Joe Walsh, who is seeking the Republican nomination against Trump in 2020 stated, “He’s no ‘victim.’ He’s a corrupt con man. It’s no ‘coup.’ It’s called the Constitution.”
He’s no “victim.” He’s a corrupt con man. It’s no “coup.” It’s called the Constitution. https://t.co/UCwx7ksqAX
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) October 2, 2019
Rhode Island Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI) stated, “Every time the President Tweets about a coup or a civil war, he is making Vladimir Putin’s wildest dreams come true. The sooner we remove him from office the better.”
Every time the President Tweets about a coup or a civil war, he is making Vladimir Putin’s wildest dreams come true.
The sooner we remove him from office the better.
— David Cicilline (@davidcicilline) October 1, 2019
Earlier this week, Trump tweeted quoting evangelical pastor Robert Jeffress, saying “If the Democrats are successful in removing the President from office (which they will never be), it will cause a Civil War like fracture in this Nation from which our Country will never heal.”
That tweet received immediate backlash with Harvard Law professor John Coates saying that the post itself serves as an “independent basis” for impeachment.
Jenn Bentley is a freelance journalist and editor currently serving as Editor-in-Chief of Big Easy Magazine. Her work has also been featured in publications such as Wander N.O. More, The High Tech Society, FansShare, Yahoo News, Examiner.com, and others. Follow her on Twitter: @JennBentley_
