Elizabeth Warren fires back with her own video after being painted as violent ‘fight’ advocator in impeachment trial
Elizabeth Warren #ElizabethWarren
Part of Mr Trump’s defence is that he used similar language to those trying to impeach him. The attempt to undercut their argument that his words incited the 6 January storming of the US Capitol is that he has been taken out of context.
In a video clip, the Massachusetts senator said about Mr Trump: “Take him out now.” Another showed her saying: “We fight harder, we fight tougher, and we fight passionately.”
Ms Warren posted her own video compilation from her primary rallies, drawing a contrast to those of the former president, and perhaps that aggressive rhetoric is not a staple as it is at a Trump rally.
“In case anyone is wondering what my rallies look like,” she wrote, posting the compilation video of clips of her speaking with young girls at events in 2019 and early 2020 .
The defence team footage also included President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer all saying the words “fight” or “fought” in speeches or interviews, mostly it appears in an inoffensive or metaphorical way.
In one, Mr Schumer was innocuously talking about fighting Covid-19.
In another, the New York senator famously said that Supreme Court justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh had “released the whirlwind” and would “pay the price” as the court heard arguments in a case on abortion.
Mr Schumer later said that he had not meant his remarks to be threatening or to encourage violence, after being rebuked by Chief Justice John Roberts.
Kamala Harris was quoted as saying: “Does one of us have to come out alive” (of an elevator with Trump, Pence, or Jeff Sessions), and “the strength of who we are is we will fight,” as well as: “It is a fight borne out of patriotism.”
A clip of Nancy Pelosi had her saying: “We’ve got to be ready to throw a punch.”
Representative Maxine Waters appeared, saying: “I will go and take Trump out tonight,” and Senator Corey Booker implored people to: “Please, get up in the face of some congresspeople.”
Also making an appearance was Denis McDonough, the newly confirmed secretary of veterans affairs.
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In that clip, from his Senate confirmation hearing, The Washington Post reports Mr McDonough said: “I’m a fighter, and I’m relentless.” He was promising to fight for the right of America’s veterans and was subsequently confirmed to his position by a bipartisan vote of 87 to 7 senators.
At Mr Trump’s 6 January rally at the Ellipse in the hours before the fatal attack on the Capitol, the then president called on his supporters to “fight like hell” and march down Pennsylvania Avenue to Congress, which they then did.
One “fight” quote from that day the defence team says is inoffensive and metaphorical but has been taken out of context is when Mr Trump compared Republicans to a boxer fighting with his hands tied behind his back. He said that they have to fight much harder.
The defence team also cited two incidents in 2017 when pop star Madonna said had thought about blowing up the White House, and actor Johnny Depp had asked a festival crowd in Scotland: “When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?”
Madonna clarified she has been speaking “in metaphor”, and Mr Depp apologised for making a “bad joke”.