In a recent rally in Wilkes-Barre, PA, Donald Trump was careful to refer to President Joe Biden as "an enemy of the state," a phrase likely included in the written text of his speech by speechwriter Stephen Miller, a man whose mindset permeates many Trump policies.
Trump carefully repeated the phrase several more times during the rally.
Trump also used the phrase in describing Jamal Khashoggi, a U.S.-based journalist, who entered a Turkish embassy to get a document for his fiance', but was murdered by being choked, drugged and having his body dismembered.
Trump's words after Khashoggi's murder:
"Representatives of Saudi Arabia say Jamal Khashoggi was an "enemy of the state" and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but my decision is in no way based on that--this is an unacceptable and horrible crime.
King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning and execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi."
"Enemy of the State" is a phrase commonly used by dictators and strong men like Joseph Stalin, former Premier of the Soviet Union.
Do you remember Nikita Krushchev, the bald, former Soviet Premier who took off his shoe at the United Nations and banged it on the table to make a point?
Well, Krushchev, who succeeded Stalin, decided the term "enemy of the state" was too divisive for the old Soviet Union. Notice Krushchev's words:
"This term automatically made it unnecessary that the ideological errors of a man or men engaged in a controversy be proven.
It made possible the cruelest repression, violating all norms of legality against anyone who disagreed with Stalin . . ."
Russia did start using this term again around 2010, but it's interesting that Trump now uses a phrase abandoned by the Soviets in 1956 as too poisonous.
But, using the phrase "enemy of the state" is not the only way Trump has acted like a dictator.
Thinking that Mike Pence could somehow "could have overturned the election" was pure dictatorial thinking.
It's as if Trump is saying "I and I alone decide what the law says."
That's Dictator 101.
Promising to pardon the January 6 insurrectionists, should he be elected, also projects a leader who is above the law.
Trump is also sending a signal that any future attempts to undue the control of any administration not headed by him would be dealt with leniency once he's again "rightfully" in control.
In Trump's term of office he ran the country as if he owned it and all of its agency's worked for him and under his control.
That's the modus operandi of a dictator.
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