News

The Scariest Thing About Trump's Acceptance Speech

by Morgan Brinlee

Between his picture of nearly 200,000 illegal immigrants "roaming free to threaten peaceful citizens" and descriptions of unchecked "violence in our streets," it's hard to pick just one area of the GOP nominee's prepared remarks that leave me feeling uneasy. Safe to say, there's a lot to be frightened of in the leaked copy of Donald Trump's Republican National Convention acceptance speech, which was obtained (and shared) by the pro-Clinton group Correct The Record hours before the real estate mogul was set to take the stage Thursday evening. But perhaps the most hair-raising line from his leaked acceptance speech is the one where Trump attempts to court conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones, radio host and known 9/11 "truther."

In introducing his "plan of action for America," Trump reportedly plans to claim that "the most important difference between our plan and that of our opponents, is that our plan will put America First. Americanism, not globalism, will be our credo."

It's a direct nod to Jones and the band of far-right conspiracy theorist who tune in to his syndicated talk show, The Alex Jones Show, and his website, Infowars. Jones has long been quick to paint "globalists" as the true bad guy in America and his fans won't miss the connection in Trump's remarks. Here's what Media Matters For America had to say about Jones' frequent tirades against globalism:

Jones frequently invokes “globalists” as the villains behind the various conspiracy theories he discusses on his radio show. He believes that a New World Order of global elites is working behind the scenes to rule the world through an authoritarian government and eliminate 80 percent of the world’s population.

It's a message Jones brought with him to the Republican National Convention. During the Monday's "America First" rally, Jones railed against officials that had denied him a permit to fly a "Hillary for Prison" banner over the city of Cleveland. "These people are not liberals," he shouted. "They are anti-freedom scum who need to get their ass to North Korea! We're identifying the globalists, their program of control, their operations. Once the public understands the paradigm: It's game over! Globalism and the New World Order are in trouble. ... The American idea is the answer to the globalist program of enslavement and worldwide tyranny."

If Jones' name sounds familiar to you — and you swear you've never fallen prey to theories 9/11 was "an inside job" — you may recall Jones from some inflammatory comments he made earlier in the Republican National Convention. He claimed presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton "works for the Communist Chinese" and was a "traitor" who should be given a fair trail before ultimately being made to "face a firing squad." Ever the busy bee, Jones has also scuffled with protesters and The Young Turks in the four days of the Republican convention.

It's more than a bit frightening that Trump is looking to cozy up to the so-called king of conspiracy — also dubbed "the most paranoid man in America" — but not altogether shocking. Trump's been showering praise on Jones long before he was named the Republican's presumptive nominee. In December, Trump vowed not to let Jones down during an interview on the radio host's show. In June, he came to California touting claims the state's five-year drought was all in residents' heads. It was a theory he'd reportedly picked up from, you guessed it, Jones.

If these are the folks a man running for president is hoping to buddy up to during an election, who'll he take advice from when potentially tasked with leading the country?