At a recent event at Mar-a-Lago, a group of high-profile MAGA supporters gathered to promote conspiracy theories and fearmongering, with Mel Gibson making headlines for his violent rhetoric.
Gibson, the actor and director known for his extreme views, spoke to the crowd, saying, “I got nine kids. If one of them got stolen or trafficked, I’d have to kill someone.” His comment reflects the dangerous, violent language that has become more common among some of the loudest voices in the MAGA movement, where fear and paranoia are often stoked for political gain.
The event was hosted by America’s Future, a conservative nonprofit group now led by retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn. Under Flynn’s leadership, the group has shifted towards promoting conspiracy theories, including the baseless QAnon belief that a secret group of pedophiles controls the government and media.
Gibson, who recently executive-produced the controversial movie Sound of Freedom—which plays on QAnon fears about child trafficking—praised Flynn for exposing what he described as “wolves in sheep’s clothing” who prey on children. His speech echoed the extreme rhetoric that has become common in these circles, where fear of child trafficking is often linked to unfounded and dangerous claims about a global conspiracy.
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Other notable figures at the event included conspiracy theorist Russell Brand, rock singer Kid Rock, former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson, and Trump ally Roger Stone. Former President Trump himself was also in attendance, briefly addressing the crowd alongside Flynn, Carlson, and Kid Rock.
The event was full of rhetoric about fighting a supposed “deep state,” with Flynn’s sister, Mary O’Neill, even making bizarre claims on the group’s website about organ harvesting and blood-drinking elites. These kinds of unfounded, sensational stories are common in the circles surrounding Trump and his allies, further promoting a culture of fear and division.
Gibson, known for his controversial beliefs, also criticized the Biden administration, calling it “four years of thinly veiled Marxism” and suggested that the Trump administration would offer a “four-year grace period” to push back against what he saw as the forces undermining America.
At the heart of these gatherings is an increasing reliance on fearmongering and violent language, where the idea of “fighting back” against imagined enemies becomes an excuse for extremism. The rhetoric coming from figures like Gibson and Flynn encourages dangerous actions, pushing the limits of what’s acceptable in political discourse.
This kind of violent, fear-based language may be used to rally supporters, but it also risks further division and hostility in an already polarized political climate.
Watch the clip below:
Mel Gibson tonight at Mar-a-Lago thanking General Flynn pic.twitter.com/YhSznfsIjR
— Matilda (@savvydachshunds) December 11, 2024
