Listen

To this story on our podcast

Watch

Ali talk about the rhetoric of "vermin"

Get Involved

Engaged citizens strengthen democracy

One of the founding tenets of The Philadelphia Citizen is to get people the resources they need to become better, more engaged citizens of their city.

We hope to do that in our Good Citizenship Toolkit, which includes a host of ways to get involved in Philadelphia — whether you want to contact your City Councilmember about the challenges facing your community, get those experiencing homelessness the goods they need, or simply go out to dinner somewhere where you know your money is going toward a greater good.

Find an issue that’s important to you in the list below, and get started on your journey of A-plus citizenship.

Vote and strengthen democracy

Stand up for marginalized communities

Create a cleaner, greener Philadelphia

Help our local youth and schools succeed

Support local businesses

Listen

Ali Velshi on Trump’s Rhetoric and the Word “Vermin”

The MSNBC anchor and Citizen Board member asks that we pay attention to Trump's rhetoric, which has moved from bizarre to dangerous

Listen

Ali Velshi on Trump’s Rhetoric and the Word “Vermin”

The MSNBC anchor and Citizen Board member asks that we pay attention to Trump's rhetoric, which has moved from bizarre to dangerous

BY Ali Velshi

Nov. 20, 2023

Print

You could say Donald Trump gaffes used to make us laugh. His obsession, for example, with proving he’s more qualified than Joe Biden (which keeps bumping up against his inability to tell the current president from former President Obama), is kind of funny. Ditto his claims of endorsement from a fictional serial killer and his ignorance of world geography or history.

But as Ali Velshi points out, Trump’s recent speeches have clearly and definitively dropped language specific to White nationalists and echo fascists and genocidal movements from the darkest episodes of history.

“We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country that lie and steal and cheat on elections.” — Donald Trump, Veterans Day 2023 address in Claremont, N.H.

This dehumanizing vocabulary comes straight from the Nazi playbook, referencing Hitler’s views on inferior races and, in particular, the Jewish people. In an October interview with far-right news site The National Pulse, Trump referenced immigrants “poisoning the blood of our country.” These are not dog whistles: These are affirmative shouts of racism and hatred. We need to pay attention to the lessons of history and take his rhetoric seriously for the danger that it is.

LISTEN: ALI VELSHI TALKS ABOUT TRUMP’S RHETORIC

 

 

WATCH: ALI ON TRUMP’S TALK, INCLUDING THE WORD “VERMIN”

 

 

MORE FROM MSNBC’S ALI VELSHI

Related from The Citizen
Velshi Banned Books: All The Rivers, Palestinian Jewish Love Story
By Ali Velshi
Related from The Citizen
Listen: Ali Velshi on Corruption, Trumps v. Bidens
By Ali Velshi
Related from The Citizen
Listen: Ali Velshi on the Injustice of Cash Bail
By Ali Velshi
Related from The Citizen
Listen: Ali Velshi's Impassioned Plea for Democracy
By Ali Velshi

Advertising Terms

We do not accept political ads, issue advocacy ads, ads containing expletives, ads featuring photos of children without documented right of use, ads paid for by PACs, and other content deemed to be partisan or misaligned with our mission. The Philadelphia Citizen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and all affiliate content will be nonpartisan in nature. Advertisements are approved fully at The Citizen's discretion. Advertisements and sponsorships have different tax-deductible eligibility. For questions or clarification on these conditions, please contact Director of Sales & Philanthropy Kristin Long at KL@thephiladelphiacitizen.org or call (609)-602-0145.

Photo and video disclaimer for attending Citizen events

By entering an event or program of The Philadelphia Citizen, you are entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur. Your entry and presence on the event premises constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of any and all recorded media of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose whatsoever in perpetuity in connection with The Philadelphia Citizen and its initiatives, including, by way of example only, use on websites, in social media, news and advertising. By entering the event premises, you waive and release any claims you may have related to the use of recorded media of you at the event, including, without limitation, any right to inspect or approve the photo, video or audio recording of you, any claims for invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, defamation, and copyright infringement or for any fees for use of such record media. You understand that all photography, filming and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please do not enter the event premises.