Former president Donald Trump disseminated on social media on Friday an image of President Biden with his hands and feet tied and his mouth gagged, the latest example of the Republican candidate’s use of increasingly violent rhetoric and imagery this campaign season.
The image can be seen about halfway through a 20-second video that Trump posted on his Truth Social site. The post says it was recorded Thursday on Long Island, where Trump traveled this week to attend a wake for a recently killed police officer.
In the video, two trucks decorated with giant Trump flags and altered American flags are driving on a highway. On the tailgate door of one of the trucks is the image of Biden lying horizontally, bound and gagged.
Trump has a history of sharing and promoting violent images featuring his perceived enemies.
Unfortunately, facts don’t matter to most people. Humans are emotional first. You say a bunch of stuff that clashes with their beliefs and group membership, and you hit a fight or flight response. They’re not going to listen because losing group cohesion tells the brain you’re going to die alone in the desert.
Think about how you feel when someone contradicts something you’re emotionally invested in. Your favorite band sucks. Most people aren’t going to calmly evaluate the situation.