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Death and destruction, poverty, pain and hopelessness, terrorism and traitors — Donald Trump’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention was a particularly horrific timeline of the United States under President Barack Obama.
Trump’s acceptance speech at the convention garnered a lot of criticism on Twitter for being a notably gloomy worldview — and for deliberately misrepresenting the facts.
Former President George H.W. Bush’s speechwriter called it "dark" and "frightening."
This is a very dark and frightening speech.
— Mary Kate Cary (@mkcary) July 22, 2016
Others pointed to its fearmongering, like Wall Street Journal reporter Bret Stephens:
This speech is a relentless, unyielding, humorless, hectoring appeal to fear and loathing.
— Bret Stephens (@StephensWSJ) July 22, 2016
The Atlantic’s James Fallows — who was previously a speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter — shared a similar sentiment to Stephens, adding that the speech was a clear sign of Trump’s pivot toward the general election.
Notably more even-tempered than during his appearances in the primaries, Trump hinted at his more "presidential" demeanor.
Half this speech is same old fear and mistrust. But some little part, as delivered, is first glimmer of The Pivot. HRC, pay attention.
— James Fallows (@JamesFallows) July 22, 2016
Meghan McCain, a Fox News contributor and the daughter of former Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, saw the speech as the end of an era in Republican politics.
The party I was part of is dead.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) July 22, 2016
And Norm Ornstein, the political science who predicted Trump’s rise before everyone else, may have had the darkest take of them all, noting that the speech was best fit for Nazi propaganda filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl.
If Leni Riefenstahl were alive, Trump would hire her to film this speech. Then not pay her.
— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) July 22, 2016
Trump’s silver lining: Only he, and he alone, can save the American public from this calamity.
