On Election Day Americans spoke loudly. Donald Trump would be our next president despite the polls predicting otherwise by a long shot. A man who ran his campaign as an anti-establishment candidate, would be the next leader of the free world and put the establishment itself on notice.
However, it appears that a decisive victory at the polls has only brought about yet another wave of opposition to the president-elect, fueling a hysterical movement against him.
This movement against Trump is evident everywhere, from consistent negative media coverage, to the Clinton supported recount led by Jill Stein. It doesn’t stop there however. The old guard, the establishment, are also exerting their direct power over the president elect. Why was Al Gore meeting with Trump over at Trump Tower? This is frightening to Trump supporters due to the fact that Mr. Gore stands staunchly opposed to the principles that Trump espoused during his campaign regarding climate change. Is the old elite regime trying to bully its way into Trump’s cabinet?
To the voters who elected him, Trump is a symbol for “America first”, as he condemned the globalist system that has been gaining power in America under the last two administrations. If the old guard is indeed trying to influence the president-elect from inside positions of power, it can be argued that their intent is to halt Trump’s ability to create change before he even begins his presidency.
This possible agenda to make Trump impotent through the inner workings of his cabinet is reminiscent of another crucial event in history. In 1936, during the Spanish civil war, Spanish Nationalists laid siege to Madrid, held by the Republicans. 4 military columns advanced on the city. The Nationalists were confident that the city would fall from within because of the “fifth column” already inside the city.
This was a reference to the number of Nationalist sympathizers inside Madrid who were capable of military action, as well as manipulating the city’s defenses through propaganda, misinformation, and sabotage. Though not immediately, the city did eventually fall to the Nationalists. “The fifth column” became a term used to describe such groups, including Nazi sympathizers in anti-Nazi countries during WWII.
Under Trump, America now has a great opportunity. There is a chance to break away from the globalist system that has been stripping us of our sovereignty over the years, and regain our self-governing abilities.
However, there are very powerful established organizations and individuals however that will do anything in their power to stop the Trump presidency in its tracks.
Reporting has facilitated misinformation and hate. After the election, anti-Trump protests were held nationwide with shouts of “Not my president”! Why have the individuals in power, whom those protesters call their leaders, not spoken out to halt the anger, and accept the decision of a democratic election? We don’t remember any nationwide protests when Obama was elected and conservatives weren’t happy.
It can be argued that Trump supporters are merely people who want to keep our leaders in check, stripping their blind authority over us. There’s a real chance for success now that we have broken ties with the old guard, and, as Americans, we must stay vigilant and pay attention to the real events that shape our future.
Will the massive movement against Trump fizzle out any time soon?
Or will “fifth column” continue its march into the halls of history?
In the end the choice belongs to the American people.
Edward Sweeney of Peterborough is a member of Citizens for Open Government.