It is waging an online campaign against Chris Van Hollen.

Summary

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) traveled to El Salvador to seek the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident wrongfully deported in March.

Abrego Garcia, married to a U.S. citizen with three children, was legally allowed to stay under a 2019 court order.

The Trump administration admitted his deportation was an “administrative error” but refused his return. The Supreme Court ruled against the administration 9-0.

In response, the White House launched a smear campaign against Van Hollen, framing Garcia as a gang member despite no charges or convictions.

  • Zak@lemmy.world
    841·
    3 days ago

    They really are stupid when it comes to undermining their own case, aren’t they?

    No, they are not. It’s a mistake to think of them as stupid, as that leads to underestimating the threat they pose.

    They don’t care about winning this case in the conventional sense. Trump and his allies couldn’t care less what happens to Kilmar Abrego Garcia; what they’re after is the power to exile or imprison people without due process of law.

      • WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world
        11·
        3 days ago

        A lot of his handlers are also stupid, especially this term. Some of them aren’t, so there’s still a chance of a coherent plan coming through, but most of the time it’s just stupidity.

        • Tinidril@midwest.socialEnglish
          10·
          3 days ago

          No, there absolutely is a coherent plan, it’s just that part of that plan is to create chaos and the appearance of incoherence. We absolutely should keep that straight.

          It’s also true that Trump’s orbit contains a lot of other useful idiots, but they are hangers-on, not who I would consider to be his handlers.

          Of course it does take a certain kind of idiot to ever embrace fascism, but we can’t mistake that for incompetence.

    • peoplebeproblems@midwest.socialEnglish
      17·
      3 days ago

      They are stupid. It’s required for fascism to fascist.

      It’s because they are stupid it makes them dangerous. They will say “NO I AM RIGHT!” when the obvious answer sits in front of them.

      They JUST DON’T CARE.

      Don’t give them credit for a “well thought our plan.” This regime will destroy itself, with or without resistance. Look at Putin’s Russia. When he dies, there will be a massive power struggle and no one knows what the fuck will happen.