by MPeriod
Posted 3 years ago
In a surprising move, the once deeply loyal far-right, often violent, supporters of former President Trump now are openly saying “Trump will go down as a total failure".
This is a shocking 180 from previous statements after the presidential election last year, the Proud Boys, a far-right group, declared its undying loyalty to President Donald Trump.Even as recently as November 8th, on their private Telegram channel, they urged people to protest in support of Trump saying "Hail Emperor Trump”.
For years the Proud Boys have strongly supported Trump, sometimes violently and illegally. Holding rallies, often attacking people who were protesting Trump. Led by Enrique Tarrio (who himself was recently arrested and jailed for theft and burning a black lives matter flag), many of its thousands of members were such die-hard fans of Trump that they offered to serve as his private militia. Many celebrated when during a debate he openly said they should “stand back and stand by.” - leading many in the group to believe Trump had a grand plan that involved them. Like QANON these fantasies seemingly were shattered this week as Trump slunk from office among record low approval ratings, with nothing more than handing out pardons to any celebrity who asked and no master plan.
On social media, Proud Boys participants have complained about his willingness to leave office and said his disavowal of the Capitol rampage was an act of betrayal. Many also watched as political insiders, and celebrities were given pardons however his most loyal Proud Boys supporters such as Joseph Biggs, was arrested in Florida and charged with unlawful entry and corruptly obstructing an official proceeding in the riot. At least four other members of the group also face charges stemming from the attack. Many see Trump's refusal to help them, as a betrayal.
While the feelings of a far right militia group, is probably not news. What this, along with similar feelings from QANON shows is Trump's support, may not be as strong as many believed. Maybe on the far right saw Trump as a transformative figure, a guy with a plan, to right the wrongs they saw. And in the end, many of them ended up in jail, publiclly scored for their conspiracy theories, and with a former president who at the end ignored their existence and moved on with his life.
Last week, Nicholas Fuentes, leader of America First, wrote in his Telegram channel that Trump’s response to the Capitol rampage was “very weak and flaccid” and added, “Not the same guy that ran in 2015.”
On Wednesday, the Proud Boys Telegram group welcomed President Joe Biden to office. “At least the incoming administration is honest about their intentions,” the group wrote. At the same time another posted "It really is important for us all to see how much Trump betrayed his supporters this week. We are nationalists 1st and always. Trump was just a man and as it turns out an extraordinarily weak one at the end."
Topic: Politics
Tags: Trump Proud Boys Trump Support