Republicans terrified of crossing Trump due to physical threats, Democrat says

[groundloop]

Source: The Guardian

Republicans on Capitol Hill are shying away from criticizing Donald Trump’s policies over fears for their physical safety and that of their families, a Democratic member of Congress has said.

Eric Swalwell, a Democratic representative from California, said his Republican colleagues were “terrified” of crossing Trump not only because of the negative impact on their political careers, but also from anxiety that it might provoke physical threats that could cause personal upheaval and require them to hire round-the-clock security as protection.

[snip]

“It’s more more personal. It’s their personal safety that they’re afraid of, and they have spouses and family members saying, ‘Do not do this, it’s not worth it, it will change our lives forever. We will have to hire around-the-clock security.’ Life can be very uncomfortable for your children.

“That is real, because when [Elon] Musk [Trump’s most powerful ally] tweets at somebody, or Trump tweets at somebody, or calls somebody out, their lives are turned upside down.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/27/republicans-trump-threats

---

And this is why tRump pardoned the Jan 6 insurrectionists, they're tRump's enforcers.

[hatrack]

1. They're not his enforcers, they're embryonic death squads . . .

See also: El Salvador, Chile, Argentina, Nicaragua, Guatemala.

[LaRaven]

2. This is some scary sh*t!

Gives some insight as to how they are behaving towards their constituents.

[Alice B.]

3. How do we combat this?

Dragging the topic of political violence out into the open is a start (which I liken a bit to screaming and making a scene if someone threatens you), but where do we go from there?

[Arger68]

4. If they are so afraid that they

can't or won't do their jobs then they should resign.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

5. Dem leadership should have a backroom whistleblower channel

And when enough repubs come to them, the dems should share their findings
and help these repubs with some type of protection for them and their families.

[creon]

52. I agree

Democrats should do that.

Or, the GOP Rep resign and go home.

[NotHardly]

22. Literally this.

[flashman13]

24. They can't resign. They love their jobs too much. Political power is addictive.

So they will sell out to a cheap con man and get to pretend they are important.

[Dem4life1234]

67. This!!!!

They should just go away.

Bunch of fraidy cats.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. Wrong thing to say. They have an entire district of angry constituents who

could do worse, and now they have let them know how to balance the scales.

[Chi67]

8. Well

I would say that the longer they continue to ignore their constituents, they will be out of jobs very soon. They can then join the unemployment line with federal workers they refused to defend. However, I doubt they will be any employers' first choices.

[dweller]

7. Tuff shit

Now you know what the rest of us feel like living under a fascist
What’s that saying ?
POLITICS AIN’T BEANBAG



✌🏻

[happy feet]

21. Exactly

As if any right, including civil rights was earned without threats including killings of those who fought was ever gained by cowering due to threat to one’s family instead of standing up for the broader cause. Their choice. I reserve my empathy for the victims, including their constituents, of this tyrannical govt and their house budget just passed.

[FakeNoose]

9. This is the damage caused by Xwitter

... and Musk absolutely knew what he was doing when he removed all the security precautions.

[groundloop]

10. And he knew what he was doing when he bought Twitter with other people's money

His fellow "investors" and lenders have lost Billions on the deal, I have to wonder if they'll reap any benefits from Elmo now owning the United States.

[angrychair]

11. I don't believe it

These people have been all about tough talk and threatening people about their "gun rights", protecting the 2nd amendment against a tyrannical government, they wear rifle pins and call themselves "freedom fighters" but are afraid to even push back when that is their job? Why are they afraid of their own government? Is having a government in which you are afraid of your own Party leader really the political party you want to be in?

[Blasphemer]

47. Agree - it's BS unless they come forward with actual threats

Make them public. Call the authorities.

[Bengus81]

69. I don't either. Cassidy Hutchinson is alive and well so is Liz Cheney

It's smoke and mirrors BS to keep idiot Republicans toeing the line....

[Firestorm49]

12. Boo Hoo! Republicans need to step up to do the right thing. The right thing?

Apparently for Republican politicians “doing the right thing” has about as much meaning as the words
“prove it.” As uncomfortable or freighting as the job may have become, there comes a time to return to doing the right thing. We all encounter uncomfortable circumstances making us adjust our lives in meaningful ways. However, to date, I have not heard of any Republican politicians being assassinated at the direction of the boy fuehrer. To hear them whimper as we go down the toilet of fascism garners no sympathy from me.

[brush]

13. Wow. It's come to this. Cowardly rethug Reps fear trump/Musk Gestapo knocks on their doors...

and bodily harm for self and family.

Careful about being silent and who/what you vote for.

[chowder66]

14. The Democrats take the heat all the time and they keep calling the admin out. So who are the spineless?

Those who cannot stand up to Trump and this admin need to either impeach, vote/stand with Democrats or resign.

[Firestorm49]

15. Damn straight, chowder66.

[chowder66]

18. It chaps my hide that the Republicans have gotten away with calling us cowards or spineless when they

have always proven to be the ones that are cowards and spineless. They can't govern and they can't stand up for their constituents (only the ones that threaten them). Maybe if they did the job they were sent to do they would't have to face threats. They created their own hell and spread it around.

They have never really cared about constituents other than to keep their seats and ride the gravy train. They get paychecks for doing the bare minimum which typically harms their state and its people and for whatever reason those people keep sending them back to collect those government handouts.

[DBoon]

55. yes, as Nancy Pelosi could testify

on behalf of her husband

[Wiz Imp]

16. "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

From the brilliant Ben Franklin.

At some point, some of these people are going to have to put the good of their country and the good of mankind ahead of their personal safety.

[yardwork]

17. Then they can resign.

My useless Republican senators, including two-faced Thom Tillis, are all scared and upset to cross Trump, while wringing their hands and expressing "concerns."

There's an easy solution. Retire.

[XanaDUer2]

35. Tillis sucks

[Mz Pip]

19. Democrats get death threats

It doesn’t stop them from speaking out.

[Walleye]

32. Democrats get death threats all the time. Probably a lot more than the Republicans.

[Traildogbob]

56. Right!!!!!

AOC and Crockett are not cowering in a corner whimpering, “Please don’t hit me, take anything you want, just don’t hit me”.
For a second does any one think they are not catching full rage of MAGA with threats of shit that most social sites would not let you post.
So GQP media need to stop with the “Balls are signs of bravery”.
GQP tanned ones are useless
If any one had the horror of seeing trumps knee length low hanging sun dried balls, do we think they would look like pure masculinity and bravery?
They take the same oath as our military.
If your chicken shit scared of Trump, Elooon, Waters, Tuckums, MTG or Boobert, leave, run for your life and stop taking the 6 figure +- tax payer cash to cower in your damn office.
That is all. 😠

[DBoon]

20. They should be terrified of their constituents whose lives are made worse by Trump/Musk

Not a Russian bot army

[Hope22]

26. And it is pretty arrogant of them to not see that all of our lives are in danger.

Theirs no more important than ours! If they can’t do the job resign and let someone willing to get it done do it!

[markie]

23. then quit!

simply quit

[StarryNite]

25. Yup, the flying monkeys were unleashed.

Those whack jobs will do anything for their orange messiah. And they know they won't be held accountable.
But that doesn't excuse the Repubs from doing their damn jobs! The light of day needs to shine on this. They can't hide from the facts, the facts must be brought out to the public.

[Hope22]

36. Maybe the Rs need to understand that they can do their job now, resign or...

…be held accountable one day to the damage they have done to all of us. The deaths, financial loss and incarcerations that will soon come will all be heard in court. These people want to be paid for not doing their job! Kind of ironic they are the actual grifters.

[wolfie001]

27. His thug-cult threatened the lady who trump SA'd when she was 13 to keep her from testifying

He has his thug patrol that have a lot of experience harassing and intimidating people. Probably some are former and current law force and legal people in NYC.

[Ohioboy]

28. In other words they are experiencing tyranny but aren't brave enough to stop it

Seems to be these Republicans aren't very brave when it come to actually fighting tyranny.

[Walleye]

30. Mike Johnson seems like the biggest coward I've ever seen

[Walleye]

29. This is what I've been saying all along. They are physical cowards. They can't think of a way to stand up to these peopl

[Figarosmom]

31. Im sure they are being threatened.

And I figure that's why so many quit last year. And I'm sure there are going to be more quitting.

[Trust_Reality]

63. I agree. And they should quit NOW.

Change control of Congress/Senate.

Quit NOW

[Figarosmom]

65. Yes that is what i was yhinking.

Those that are from states with Democratic Governors who will replace them with Democrats.

[Dave Bowman]

33. A real little mobster, just like Mad Vlad.

[TheRickles]

34. Chris Hedges says we are now a Mafia state.

https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/the-mafia-state?utm_source=substack&publication_id=778851&post_id=157204689&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=true&r=5hvu6&triedRedirect=true|

[milestogo]

37. He terrorizes friends and enemies.

How long are we going to let this go on?

[liberalgunwilltravel]

38. It's time they started fearing us.

How long before the true patriots to stand up and start taking the fascists out. Republicans are cowards. After only a few of them would have to suffer the fate they deserved, the masses would change their tune. The longer they wait the worse it’s going to get and the more people are going to suffer.

[Irish_Dem]

39. GOP Cowards. Generations of Americans put themselves at risk to save democracy.

[liberal N proud]

40. They should exposing those threats

They won’t, but they should

[bdamomma]

79. At Town Halls

the constituents should just come out with and ask them. Are you being threatened by this administration/ or regime?

[Stonealone]

41. It will only take 1

Unfortunately, it would one take one congressperson getting gunned down for the Orange King to declare an Emergency. And then call out his Flying Muskies (Blackwater part 2) to come to His aid. Like they did so well in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
I feel like a lot of us are really just that Little Child in Holland, who is standing there with his finger in the dike, trying to hold back the flood waters.
Someone, whomever "THEY" are, has done a very good job of turning us against each other.
I know two things.
1) I'm going to be 70 soon, so I won't have to deal with the outcome of this for long. But I fear for my children and grandchildren and future generations.
2) My dad Hit the Beach in Normandy on D-Day+6. and fought all the way to Germany. Saw the "Camps". Saw EVIL. Unfortunately, he passed away when I was 6, so I never got the chance to talk to about that.
But back in the 1770's and 1860's, a lot of people gave up their lives and livelihood to live free.

[thinkingagain]

42. If course they are scared

Of death threats etc

They are scared of a room full of people yelling at them to do their jobs

So if a small thing like a little old lady yelling to do their jobs causes them to go hide
What do you thing a threating message would do

Maybe they need to go and get some lessons from someone like Adam K
Or Jasmine C just to name a couple
They got and get threats but still keep working toward a goal to save America

[BadgerMom]

43. My dad fought Nazis in Europe during WWII.

Fighting for democracy sometimes requires physical courage. Man up, Republicans.

It’s awful that the people of America elected Trump. It’s horrendous these Republican elected officials face potential bodily harm. But they have had a lot to do with putting the country and themselves in mortal danger. They should get their families protected and tell their story together. They’ll have greater safety in numbers.

If my father and his generation could do it in the 1940s, these folks can—and must—do it now.

[KPN]

44. They should be afraid. Musk and Trump are both mobsters.

They will destroy anyone who violates the spoken or unspoken loyalty oath. This will not go away until Musk and Trump are gone away.

Is there no Brutus among them?

[ancianita]

45. ANY participants in political violence (not just pardoned Jan 6'ers) enforce the power of the U.S. oligarchy.

"Deputized" Jan 6'ers would be just the visible face of political violence that corporate militias would also be doing. Corporations can be as violent as the oligarchs who run them.

Because they've all sold their souls to Mammon.

[cstanleytech]

46. A lot of them are going to see their careers over with anyway in the next few rounds of elections.

[Silver Gaia]

51. THIS

Unless they start working against this monster mobster they have created, they will likely become irrelevant and lose their jobs anyway. They can't see past the ends of their noses.

[twodogsbarking]

48. Daddy has the belt and he will take it off. Better hide.

[90-percent]

49. Simple solution

Every family member should be locked and loaded to protect each other. And maybe some training so they don't shoot each other by accident?


-90% jimmy

30% facetious, 70 % sincere

[creon]

50. If they fear

If they fear for their safety, they have to resign.

[GoodRaisin]

53. Everybody gets death threats, Republicans and Democrats

The incidents of nutcakes following through with their threats are much more rare. Hell, I’ve been threatened on social media. I bet a lot of you have. I didn’t worry about it. Threats come with the territory if you want to be a politician. Republican politicians get in anyway, hoping to enrich themselves using the power of their political offices. What the Republicans have showed is that they are too cowardly to uphold their oaths, period.

[SSJVegeta]

54. If you no longer feel you can appropriately and effectively

Fulfill your oath to the constitution, resignation becomes mandatory.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

73. Welcome to DU

[SSJVegeta]

74. Thanks!

[travelingthrulife]

57. Family says keep lying, keep propping up the dictator, keep our money flowing...

‘Do not do this, it’s not worth it, it will change our lives forever. We will have to hire around-the-clock security.’

Maybe they should not have ignored the explosion of guns in this country. The only way I see this ending is by extra-judicial action since these cowards refuse to stand up for our country and its' people.

[peggysue2]

58. I'm not interested in the excuses

Why Republicans have turned into antidemocratic fascists is beside the point at this juncture.

Whether fear, cowardice or venality, the destructive results are the same.

The Republican Party is awash in outright traitors and collaborators.

Never forget, never forgive.

[Solly Mack]

59. It's OK to harm other people as long as they are safe? Am I supposed to feel sorry for them? Understand?

Fart noises.

[malthaussen]

60. But brave Democrats are immune to intimidation?

I'm frankly sick of this excuse. If there is so much intimidation going on, why is it limited to Republicans? Don't Democrats have families, lives, pets? it seems unlikely that such tactics would only be used against one Party, and unlikely that every single Republican could be intimidated, but no Democrat would falter under such treatment.

I feel like whoever started this hearsay rumor is trying to drum up pity or at least provide an unanswerable excuse for the simple choice made by all GOP legislators to toe the Party line whatever the costs. That a Democrat would pass on such nonsense is ridiculous.

-- Mal

[crim son]

61. I am not sure I believe this.

If many Rethugs are being threatened this way, they can let the world know, impeach Trump and put him in jail. They aren't doing that, but would rather let the country go down the toilet. I think they are just a bunch of weak losers or they support Trump.

[Raftergirl]

62. Snowflakes

[Orrex]

64. Then resign, you fucking cowards

If not, then you are complicit in and culpable for all of it.

[murielm99]

66. I have received death threats over LTTEs I have written.

I have had morons come and pound on my door and bellow. That is why I have doorbell cameras.

I also have a shotgun.

[Joinfortmill]

68. We're all afraid. Man up, goddammit

[ThoughtCriminal]

70. Riding the tiger of tyranny

dare not dismount. The Republicans have spent the last 24 years attacking anyone an inch towards the center with violent rhetoric and actively supporting what they consider to be their base.

Democrats and "Never Trump" Republicans have lived with these threats for years, yet found the courage to speak out and act.

[stollen]

71. Then resign

if you are contributing to the demise of the Constitution. Get the fuck out. I don't want to pay your salary.

[Uncle Joe]

72. If a Congress person is too afraid to defend the U.S. Constitution, they should resign due to health reasons.

The first three words of the Constitution were "We the people" for the same reason that Article 1 created the Congress as the first entity of the United States, for better or worse you are us.

Thanks for the thread groundloop

[SSJVegeta]

75. Trump is a President In Name Only (PINO)

[Progressive dog]

76. That may be what they're using as an excuse

Most Democrats are still standing up to Trump and he hates them more.

[bdamomma]

80. This bullying

shit has to end, the felon is just that a felon. Oh a convicted felon. Stand up or resign.

[Peregrine Took]

77. Kitchen too hot????

Get the hell off the government teat …you know the one you supposedly hate so much??

[Turbineguy]

78. Democrats are not being hurt.

Trump only showed he is not the president.

[AntiFascist]

81. They should start feeling the threat of no longer being in office n/t