A year into his presidency, Donald Trump seems to have perfected a peculiar motto: "Who you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?" This phrase, reminiscent of comedian Richard Pryor's standup bit, has become synonymous with the former president's unyielding commitment to spreading falsehoods and misinformation.
When it comes to issues like grocery prices, January 6th, Ukraine, or even actions by ICE agents, Trump consistently resorts to making astonishingly false statements that directly contradict what we can see with our own eyes. The most recent example involved Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who was killed in Minneapolis by an ICE agent named Jonathan Ross.
In the hours following her death, Trump took to Truth Social to smear Good, claiming she belonged to a "Radical Left Movement of Violence and Hate" and that she had "viciously run over the ICE officer." However, videos show Ross not only wasn't knocked over by Good's SUV but also walked away after he shot her three times.
This false narrative has serious consequences. Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, quickly jumped on the bandwagon to malign Good as a rioter and domestic terrorist, while Vice-President JD Vance denounced her as a "deranged leftist." This kind of rhetoric only serves to perpetuate the cycle of violence and hatred that Trump seems to love.
Trump's obsession with spreading falsehoods is not limited to issues like inflation or healthcare prices. He has repeatedly claimed that Ukraine started its war with Russia, Portland was "burning to the ground," and even Barack Obama founded the terrorist organization Islamic State.
One possible explanation for Trump's behavior is that he genuinely believes lying is an effective way to manipulate public opinion. He knows his lies will infuriate his foes, and his MAGA base will eagerly lap up every fib he spews. However, this approach ignores the fact that many Americans can see through his deception.
Another concern is that Trump's actions may create a culture of impunity among ICE agents and other law enforcement personnel. If they know that their leaders will defend them no matter what, even if it means perpetuating falsehoods and lies, we risk witnessing more incidents like Renee Good's tragic death.
The dangers of such a system are exemplified by Hannah Arendt's 1951 book, The Origins of Totalitarianism, which notes that the ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced extremist but rather people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction no longer exists.
As we navigate this upside-down world where truth and lies are often indistinguishable, it's crucial to recognize the perils of a self-promoting demagogue who spreads hundreds of falsehoods. If such a figure were to win election over a truth-teller who genuinely serves the nation, the consequences would be catastrophic.
In conclusion, Donald Trump's motto "Who you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?" has become an eerie reminder of his commitment to spreading falsehoods and misinformation. As we move forward, it's essential that we remain vigilant in distinguishing between fact and fiction, and hold our leaders accountable for their words and actions.
When it comes to issues like grocery prices, January 6th, Ukraine, or even actions by ICE agents, Trump consistently resorts to making astonishingly false statements that directly contradict what we can see with our own eyes. The most recent example involved Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who was killed in Minneapolis by an ICE agent named Jonathan Ross.
In the hours following her death, Trump took to Truth Social to smear Good, claiming she belonged to a "Radical Left Movement of Violence and Hate" and that she had "viciously run over the ICE officer." However, videos show Ross not only wasn't knocked over by Good's SUV but also walked away after he shot her three times.
This false narrative has serious consequences. Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, quickly jumped on the bandwagon to malign Good as a rioter and domestic terrorist, while Vice-President JD Vance denounced her as a "deranged leftist." This kind of rhetoric only serves to perpetuate the cycle of violence and hatred that Trump seems to love.
Trump's obsession with spreading falsehoods is not limited to issues like inflation or healthcare prices. He has repeatedly claimed that Ukraine started its war with Russia, Portland was "burning to the ground," and even Barack Obama founded the terrorist organization Islamic State.
One possible explanation for Trump's behavior is that he genuinely believes lying is an effective way to manipulate public opinion. He knows his lies will infuriate his foes, and his MAGA base will eagerly lap up every fib he spews. However, this approach ignores the fact that many Americans can see through his deception.
Another concern is that Trump's actions may create a culture of impunity among ICE agents and other law enforcement personnel. If they know that their leaders will defend them no matter what, even if it means perpetuating falsehoods and lies, we risk witnessing more incidents like Renee Good's tragic death.
The dangers of such a system are exemplified by Hannah Arendt's 1951 book, The Origins of Totalitarianism, which notes that the ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced extremist but rather people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction no longer exists.
As we navigate this upside-down world where truth and lies are often indistinguishable, it's crucial to recognize the perils of a self-promoting demagogue who spreads hundreds of falsehoods. If such a figure were to win election over a truth-teller who genuinely serves the nation, the consequences would be catastrophic.
In conclusion, Donald Trump's motto "Who you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?" has become an eerie reminder of his commitment to spreading falsehoods and misinformation. As we move forward, it's essential that we remain vigilant in distinguishing between fact and fiction, and hold our leaders accountable for their words and actions.
he's basically giving green light to these officers who kill ppl without consequences... meanwhile, his base is eating it up like good ol' fashioned kool-aid 
anyone else think we're gonna see more deaths like renée's because of him? 
also, how can Kristi Noem and JD Vance be so quick to defend trump's lies? isn't that just spreading hate too? 
and i'm not surprised he's spreading false info about Renee Good's death. it's like he thinks his base will just blindly follow him no matter what 
. newsflash, dude: it doesn't work that way. people are starting to see through your tricks and call you out on 'em 
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. trump's behavior is not just damaging his own credibility, but also creating a toxic environment where people are more likely to get hurt.
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and the worst part is ppl are still buying into it 
its not just about the lies itself but also how it affects ppl like reneé's family & friends who deserve better than 2 be blamed 4 a tragedy thats not even related 2 them 
this whole thing is wild. I mean, how can one person spread so many lies and get away with it? It's like they're addicted to being wrong and people just eat it up 
. We need to be super careful about who we believe and not let our emotions cloud our judgment. I mean, if you can't trust what's happening right in front of your eyes, how are you supposed to know what's really going on? 
. His "Who you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?" motto has become a toxic mantra that's eroding trust in institutions and fueling division 
. We can't let him get away with this 
! The consequences of his lies will be disastrous for our democracy 
.
I mean, come on, who needs a motto when you can just tell the truth? 
meanwhile, people like kristi noem and JD vance are just drinking the kool-aid 
i mean, come on guys, get some critical thinking skills in ya 
or at least someone should fact-check these folks before they spew out more falsehoods 
. We need to call them out on this stuff and hold them accountable for their words. We can't let people like Trump spread lies and create a culture of impunity among law enforcement agents 
. It's up to us as citizens to make sure that we're not buying into the false narrative and instead, are fact-checking everything they say 
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and most importantly, we should be advocating for leaders who prioritize truth over lies 
. I mean, seriously, who makes up crazy stuff about innocent people? Renee Nicole Good's family deserves so much better than to be lied about like that. And don't even get me started on Trump's ego - it's like he thinks lying is some kind of superpower 
. If Trump thinks lying works, I bet he'll keep on lying 'til his head falls off 
. The problem is, we're living in a world where truth is like, what's that even mean anymore 
.
And it's not just him, either - Kristi Noem and JD Vance jumped on the bandwagon to spread lies about her too. It's like they're all in on some kind of twisted game together 
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. And the consequences of this kind of behavior are so serious - it can lead to more incidents like Renee Good's death, and it creates a culture of impunity for law enforcement personnel 
. We need to hold our leaders accountable for their words and actions, and we need to support truth-tellers who are actually working for the greater good 
. It's time to take a stand against this kind of toxic behavior! 
like a master manipulator 
always tryna spin things to fit his agenda 
gotta keep the sheeple in check 
and honestly, it's kinda scary how some ppl still believe him 
. It's like they're in a trance or somethin' 
. We need someone who'll tell the truth, no matter how hard it is 
.
newsflash dude no one believes you anymore and if we dont speak up for the truth then hes gonna keep spewing that toxic crap all over the place and someone is gonna get hurt like renee good