The most prevalent justification I encounter for the shocking events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 is, “But what about the BLM protests?” This is a classic example of whataboutism, often conveyed without words—just an image of a burning building.
Another frequent defense is, “It wasn’t us.” (It was Antifa, or BLM, or radical leftists, or paid actors, etc.) A variation of this claim is, “Those individuals don’t represent the majority of Trump supporters.”
Let’s momentarily overlook that Black Lives Matter protests were responses to systemic violence against Black individuals—perpetrated by those sworn to protect them. We’re expected to believe that Trump supporters, as a collective, are fundamentally good people with mere political differences. We’re supposed to accept that the Capitol invasion was a rare event caused by a tiny number of “bad apples,” while also being told that liberals are the real problem.
In reality, anyone who has been paying attention could see this coming for years. We’ve been nervous about this situation since before Trump took office. The way he spoke and the reactions from his supporters were clear indicators that we were heading toward serious trouble.
The “bad apples” defense doesn’t alleviate our worries any more than when Trump suggested that racist police officers who kill unarmed Black men are merely a few “bad apples” and should not cause concern.
It’s just a few bad apples! However, the complete saying goes, “A few bad apples spoil the bunch.” For instance, the Minneapolis officer who murdered George Floyd had 18 complaints against him but still held a position of power. If we’re discussing bad apples, we must show a willingness to remove those who are rotten. Otherwise, the only conclusion is that the entire group is irreparably tainted.
The individuals who stormed the Capitol, the “bad apples” who continue to plot insurrection today? If you’re a Trump supporter, these are your people. You are all in the same barrel, whether you want to acknowledge it or not.
You might believe you don’t condone their violent actions, but if you support Trump, you are also endorsing his most fervent supporters. Trump revels in the chaos of the Capitol storming; it feeds his enormous ego and allows others to carry out sedition for him.
If you doubt that Trump backs those who stormed the Capitol, just look at his statements. During the Black Lives Matter protests, he said, “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.” In contrast, during the insurrection at the Capitol, he needed convincing to tell his supporters to back down, finally tweeting, “Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order.” His response was significantly weaker compared to his earlier remarks about BLM protests, especially when addressing a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Black Lives Matter protests were about civil rights violations, yet they received “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.” Meanwhile, during the Capitol riot, Trump told the rioters, “We love you. You’re very special.”
This is because Trump embraces his supporters, bad apples and all. He would thrive on the idea that these bad apples spoil the entire bunch. Wouldn’t he love it if all 74.2 million people who voted for him were as fervent in their support for his false claims of power as the thousands who stormed the Capitol?
This is who Trump is. This is his base. They are intertwined; they form their own political faction. If you support him, you endorse those who commit sedition in his name. Whataboutism won’t change that. Pretending these treasonous individuals are a separate faction isn’t going to alter the reality.
Trump is the worst of the bad apples, and it’s time to remove him from the bunch.
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Potential Search Queries:
- Why do some Trump supporters justify the Capitol riots?
- What does it mean to be a “bad apple” in a political context?
- How do BLM protests differ from the Capitol riot?
- What are the implications of supporting Trump after the Capitol insurrection?
- How to address political violence in the current climate?
In summary, you cannot simply point out a few bad apples in a group while still supporting the leader who inspires them. The behavior and rhetoric surrounding the Capitol storming are entwined with Trump’s influence, making it impossible to separate the actions of a few from the collective responsibility of his supporters.