Inside Trump's Push for "American Death Squads": A Rolling Stone Investigation

A new Rolling Stone report alleges that former President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire for "death squads" of police to crack down on criminals violently. Trump's actions and statements suggest a dangerous intent to increase police violence, a move that could have far-reaching consequences for civil liberties and human rights in America.

Rolling Stone magazine has published a bombshell report detailing former President Donald Trump's disturbing desire to create "death squads" of police to suppress crime in the United States. According to the report, Trump has repeatedly expressed this wish to aides and associates, suggesting his willingness to use excessive force and brutality in the name of law and order.

In an interview with MSNBC's Jonathan Lemire, Rolling Stone senior political reporter Asawin Suebsaeng revealed that Trump's "death squad" idea was not merely a rhetorical flourish but a serious proposal that he has actively pursued. Suebsaeng cited multiple sources from the Trump White House who claimed that the former president frequently expressed his frustration with the police's perceived lack of aggression in dealing with criminals.

Inside Trump's Push for "American Death Squads": A Rolling Stone Investigation

"He would be doing things like banging his fist on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office and demanding, 'Why aren't the police going around shooting all kinds of street criminals and drug dealers and piling up their bodies on American streets, so it can send a very grim message to gangs and all kinds of other suspected criminals in America?'" Suebsaeng reported.

The reporter claimed that Trump's admiration for Rodrigo Duterte's brutal drug war in the Philippines influenced his "death squad" idea. Duterte's campaign of extrajudicial killings has resulted in thousands of deaths and has been widely condemned by human rights organizations.

Inside Trump's Push for "American Death Squads": A Rolling Stone Investigation

While acknowledging that the establishment of literal death squads may not be feasible, Suebsaeng emphasized the significance of Trump's intentions. "Is it possible that a second term, re-elected Trump could get exactly that? No, maybe not. But the point is, he wants to get to as close to that as humanly possible, which is a remarkable thing for a modern American presidency," he said.

The investigation also revealed that Trump considered withdrawing federal funding from cities and states that did not sufficiently support the police or tolerated excessive force. Additionally, Suebsaeng claimed that Trump discussed using presidential pardons to protect officers charged with federal crimes.

Inside Trump's Push for "American Death Squads": A Rolling Stone Investigation

These revelations have raised alarm among civil rights advocates and legal experts. "Trump's rhetoric and actions are a clear and present danger to the rule of law and to the rights of all Americans," said Lee Rowland, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Criminal Law Reform Project. "The idea that he would use excessive force as a solution to crime is both morally repugnant and unconstitutional."

Trump's campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, dismissed the allegations as part of a "political stunt" and maintained that the former president is committed to law and order. However, Suebsaeng's report suggests a more sinister and disturbing reality. The Rolling Stone investigation provides a chilling glimpse into the authoritarian tendencies of a former president who seeks to subvert democratic norms and establish a police state.

Inside Trump's Push for "American Death Squads": A Rolling Stone Investigation