Trump’s campaign rally, scheduled for Saturday evening, just happens to be during the 30th anniversary of the ATF siege at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco in which 76 members of the cult, including many children, and four federal agents died.
From the Chronicle’s editorial, titled, “Trump is stoking the fires of Waco:”
Thirty years later, the anti-government paramilitary groups feeding off lies about the “deep state” and a stolen election periodically visit the modest, little chapel on the site of the sprawling, ramshackle building that burned to the ground. Although the Branch Davidians had nothing to do with anti-government conspiracists, chapel construction was funded by loud-mouthed conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
Militia members and conspiracists know exactly what Trump’s Waco visit symbolizes. They have heard him castigate the FBI and the “deep state,” particularly after agents searched for classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. How they’ll respond to his remarks, particularly if he shows up as the first former president in American history to face criminal charges, has law enforcement in Waco and beyond taking every precaution. What he says will likely set the tone for the presidential campaign to come. Every American should be concerned.
The Chronicle urges readers to go to Waco to take in Baylor University football or basketball or to visit a park along the banks of the Brazos and Bosque rivers. But “Don’t bother with a bombastic, bullying candidate inclined to incitement and bent on ‘retribution.’ His appearance is ample reason to stay home.”
Fortunately, Insider reports that Texas’ GOP leaders, including the Republican Congressman who represents Waco, all have “prior commitments.” The state GOP chairman said he’d be unable to attend but did not specify a reason.
