The Mar-a-Lago 'Assassination' Attempt

An analysis of the former president's pattern of making unfounded claims and the potential consequences of his efforts to discredit the legal process and incite his supporters.

May 24, 2024

The Facts:

Former President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, has made an alarming claim that President Joe Biden's Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had authorized the use of "deadly (lethal) force" during the search of his Mar-a-Lago residence in August 2022.

This claim has been refuted by the FBI, which stated that it followed standard protocol and procedures during the search, including a "standard policy statement limiting the use of deadly force." The basis for Trump's accusation is a boilerplate policy memo that was included in the documents accompanying a recent filing by Trump's own lawyers in his classified documents case.

This memo was part of the "Law Enforcement Operations Order" drawn up by agents preparing to carry out the search of Mar-a-Lago. The memo outlined the standard policy regarding the use of deadly force, which is common practice for any search warrant execution by the FBI.

“BIDEN’S DOJ WAS AUTHORIZED TO SHOOT ME! Joe Biden was locked & loaded, ready to take me out & put my family in danger.”

- Donald J. Trump

Multiple former FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) officials have confirmed that the inclusion of this policy was entirely standard and did not indicate any plan to assassinate Trump. As one former DOJ official stated, "Anytime the FBI takes an adversarial action like executing a search warrant, there is a deadly force policy. If there is danger to you or public and there's no alternatives, you are authorized to use deadly force. This is standard policy."

Furthermore, the search operation was carefully planned to occur when Trump would not be present at the property, as it was carried out during Mar-a-Lago's off-season when Trump normally resides at his property in Bedminster, New Jersey. The operations order also included a contingency plan in the event that Trump did show up, which simply involved assigning points of contact to speak with his Secret Service detail.

There was no suggestion of the situation escalating into violence. Despite the clear evidence refuting Trump's claims, he and his allies have continued to perpetuate the false narrative that the FBI was authorized to use deadly force against him.

This rhetoric has been condemned by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who stated that Trump's words "can incite violence and get people killed, and cause people to lose faith in democracy."

The View:

Trump's baseless claims of an assassination plot against him by the Biden administration and the FBI are not only false but also deeply concerning. By spreading such inflammatory and unsubstantiated rumors, Trump is once again engaging in a dangerous pattern of behavior that undermines the rule of law and threatens the very foundations of American democracy.

Trump's tendency to project his own vices onto others is well-documented, and his view of presidential power as absolute is a clear threat to the checks and balances that are essential to a functioning democracy. The fact that his lawyer recently argued before the Supreme Court that a president could order the military to assassinate a political rival is a chilling reminder of the extremes to which Trump and his supporters are willing to go.

The ex-president's constant portrayal of himself as the eternal victim, whether it's the "Stop the Steal" narrative or the classified documents case, is a calculated strategy to discredit the legal process and the agencies tasked with upholding it.

By framing federal agents as assassins, Trump is not only seeking to evade accountability but also opening the door for his supporters to take matters into their own hands, potentially leading to violence and bloodshed. Trump's apocalyptic language and his unwavering belief that he is the only one who can win fairly have become increasingly alarming since the January 6th insurrection.

His latest claim that Biden and the FBI were planning to kill him is not only a blatant lie but also a dangerous signal to his followers that they must protect him from these supposed injustices at any cost. As an intellectual and passionate observer of the political landscape, I find Trump's behavior to be not only reprehensible but also a threat to the very fabric of American democracy.

His willingness to manipulate the truth and incite his supporters to violence is a clear indication that he poses a grave danger to the stability and integrity of our democratic institutions. It is crucial that the American people see through Trump's self-serving narratives and hold him accountable for his reckless and irresponsible actions.

The rule of law must be upheld, and the sanctity of our democratic processes must be protected, even in the face of such brazen attempts to undermine them. The future of our nation depends on our ability to confront and overcome the divisive and authoritarian tendencies of leaders like Donald Trump.

TLDR:

Former President Trump claimed that the Biden administration authorized the use of "deadly (lethal) force" during the search of his Mar-a-Lago residence.
The FBI has refuted this claim, stating that they followed standard protocol and procedures, including a policy on the use of deadly force, which is common practice for any search warrant execution.
Multiple former FBI and DOJ officials have confirmed that the inclusion of the deadly force policy was entirely standard and did not indicate any plan to assassinate Trump.
The search operation was carefully planned to occur when Trump would not be present, and a contingency plan was in place in case he did show up.
Trump's claims have been condemned by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who stated that they "can incite violence and get people killed, and cause people to lose faith in democracy."
Trump's baseless claims are part of a dangerous pattern of behavior that undermines the rule of law and threatens the foundations of American democracy.
The ex-president's tendency to portray himself as the victim and his willingness to manipulate the truth are seen as a threat to the stability and integrity of democratic institutions.

Insights From:

Trump’s Assassination Fantasy Has a Darker Purpose - The Atlantic

Trump falsely claims Biden authorized FBI assassination attempt - Yahoo! News