Atlantic's Tom Nichols claims Trump plans to use military as 'personal force' to target Americans

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Tom Nichols, staff writer for The Atlantic, made a startling claim, suggesting that President Donald Trump might treat the US military as his 'personal force' to target Americans.

Speaking on MSNBC’s 'Deadline: White House', Nichols discussed Trump’s directive for the Pentagon to deploy an aircraft carrier group near Venezuela for military and strategic purposes.

Nichols believes that Trump could “point the military” wherever he wishes and “kill anyone he wants.” 

MSNBC host Alicia Menendez seemed to back Nichols’ alarming claim, remarking,“Your brain and my brain have gone to the exact same place.” The clip of their conversation quickly went viral, sparking a storm on social media as users tore into the network. 

Tom Nichols warns Trump might wield the military to target citizens whenever he chooses

During a virtual conversation with MSNBC host Alicia Menendez, who was discussing Trump’s orders related to Venezuela and transnational cartels, the topic was framed as a possible usage of military power and potential violation of international law.

Menendez asked Nichols, “Even the fact that there are officers who are having that conversation tells you about the five-alarm fire that we are in, because the Trump administration claims they can lawfully kill people simply because they are suspected of drug trafficking like enemy troops, instead of arresting them for prosecution. Does that match your understanding of the law?"

Nichols responded, laying out his perspective, “No, not American law and not international treaties to which we are a signatory. The American president has said, ‘I can point the US military any place I want and kill anyone I want.’ That eventually is going to become a principle in the domestic use of the military."

He went further, warning that Trump’s actions are normalizing the use of the military for personal and political matters, “He is acclimating people to the notion that the military is his private army unconstrained by law, unconstrained by norms, unconstrained by American traditions. I don’t really think this has anything to do with drugs.”

Nichols continued, “This is about getting out from under his already dismal record, his record low approval ratings, his struggling with a scandal, and he is now saying, ‘I am going to acclimate the American public to the use of military force anywhere I deem it appropriate under any circumstances.’ The president may be thinking, ‘I may well have us in a war by the time the elections roll around, which will enable me to say any opposition to me and my party is basically treason and unpatriotic.’”

Menendez appeared to agree, telling Nichols, “Tom Nichols, your brain and my brain have gone to the exact same place.”

Social media erupts as viewers call for immediate retraction after claim on MSNBC

However, this take on MSNBC has outraged many Trump supporters.

 "Wow, the media is pathetic !! MSNBC is one of the worst," comments one user.

 "This could be fake news… MSNBC doesn’t have viewers do they?" another one shared. 

Someone else shared, "A retraction from MSNBC is not enough! These people should be PROSECUTED for this insane “reporting”. They are supposed to report NEWS. Senior citizens who still listen to MSNBC think this is NEWS. They are terrifying citizens with knowingly false information."

"MSNBC is an online version of the National Inquirer, a tabloid  that's well known for gossip and sensationalism. Used to be called, 'Yellow Journalism' for those who remember their history courses," fourth user shares.

 "The way to get at MSNBC is to cancel your bundled cable package and never ever EVER get your connectivity thru Comcast," shared another user. 

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online