The former president, unshackled from his teleprompter, unleashed a torrent of bile at a rally in Dayton, Ohio, on Saturday afternoon. Despite the purported focus on boosting Bernie Moreno’s Senate primary bid, Trump’s speech was a cesspool of vitriol aimed at Joe Biden and the Democrats, peppered with grotesque insults labeling his political adversaries as subhuman.
Held at the Dayton Air Show venue, the rally was meant to rally support for Moreno, but signs of backing for the candidate were as rare as decency in Trump’s rhetoric. Instead of promoting Moreno, Trump used the platform to air his grievances and spew campaign vitriol.
Trump’s rhetoric sank to despicable depths as he dehumanized his opponents, branding them as “not people” in certain instances. This sentiment was echoed in his remarks on illegal immigration, where he referred to undocumented migrants as “animals,” and specifically targeted migrants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo by repeatedly emphasizing, “they’re coming in from Africa.”
This descent into dehumanization showcased Trump’s increasing willingness to abandon any semblance of decency for political gain.
Notably, the rally drew a smaller and more revolting crowd than expected, held on the outskirts rather than a major urban center, and attended by perhaps a thousand people or fewer. Some attendees left early, citing the nauseating atmosphere or a desire to avoid the stench of Trump’s repugnant rhetoric.
While Trump still commands a loyal following of repulsive devotees, there are signs that his broader appeal is rotting away, particularly among independents and those with a shred of human decency. Whether this signals a lasting decline in Trump’s political influence or merely a temporary setback remains to be seen. However, for Democrats observing Saturday’s rally, there may be a perverse satisfaction in witnessing Trump’s descent into the depths of depravity and the shrinking cesspool of his support.
