In a striking turn of irony, former President Donald Trump’s latest campaign ad claims the United States has “gone to hell” under the Biden-Harris administration—using imagery from the chaotic protests that erupted during his own presidency.
The two-minute ad, narrated by Trump, paints a grim picture of the nation’s current state, showcasing footage from the 2020 protests sparked by George Floyd’s murder. Among the clips is a scene featuring a protester in a Rolling Stones sweatshirt brandishing a gun, originally highlighted in local news coverage of unrest in Seattle.
Critics are quick to point out the dissonance: the imagery used to illustrate the supposed failures of Biden-Harris directly reflects the turmoil that unfolded while Trump was in office. The protests were rooted in outrage over police violence and systemic racism—not illegal immigration, which the ad attempts to link to Biden’s leadership.
When asked about the controversial footage, a Trump campaign spokesperson argued, “The riot imagery shows the same radical leftists that embrace the chaos in Kamala’s broken world view.” Ironically, this “chaos” is a reflection of events that transpired during Trump’s own term, suggesting a tangled narrative where he uses his past to criticize his successor.
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Trump’s approach to the protests was equally contentious; he suggested deploying military forces to quell unrest, reportedly asking military leaders if they could shoot protesters in the legs.
Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper later recalled the moment as shocking, highlighting the extreme measures Trump considered.
The ad also touts Trump’s claim of having “developed the greatest economy in history,” contrasting it with Biden’s term, which he alleges has led to inflation and border crises. Meanwhile, it cuts to Kid Rock’s “Never Quit” and features UFC President Dana White praising Trump’s commitment to the country—further emphasizing the irony of a leader who now uses his own tumultuous tenure to blame others for the chaos he once presided over.
