Donald Trump said his supporters we “nasty,” “mean,” and “vicious” during a speech given in Orlando, Fla. as part of his Thank You Tour.
"You people were vicious, violent, screaming, 'Where's the wall? We want the wall!' Screaming, 'Prison! Lock her up!' I mean, you are going crazy. I mean, you were nasty and mean and vicious and you wanted to win, right?" he said while standing in behind a podium that said “Merry Christmas USA.” His words were met with cheers, and it seemed as if the president-elect was praising his supporters for their vitriolic behavior during the 2016 presidential election.
His comments glazed over the violence and racism that put his supporters' “vicious” behavior in a terrifying context, and didn’t directly acknowledge the outbursts and hate crimes that his campaign inspired. However, he did encourage calmer behavior by praising his supporters for what he perceives as a changed demeanor. He said the so-called deplorables “aren’t so deplorable anymore.”
"But now, you're cool and you're not nearly as vicious or violent, right?” he told the crowd. “Because we won, right? You're basking in the glory of victory."
However, reports from the Orlando rally indicate his supporters haven’t become as “cool” as the president-elect claims to believe. The New York Daily News reports that rally attendees chanted “Lock her up!” whenever Hillary Clinton’s name was mentioned, and one supporter was heard screaming, "Waterboard her!"
CNN reporter Jeremy Diamond also cited what could be characterized as a “vicious” attack, saying one Trump supporter at the Orlando rally chucked a water bottle at him.
And of course, outside of rallies, Trump supporters hardly seem simply to be basking in the glory of victory, and instead are continuing to spread hatred and fear online and in person.
