Donald Trump’s recent speech to supporters in Kansas has been compared to the totalitarian rhetoric similar to George Orwell’s classic dystopian novel, 1984.
The US president addressed supporters at a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Kansas City on 24 July, requesting them to not listen to what they read or saw in the news.
“Just stick with us, don’t believe the crap you see from these people, the fake news,” Mr Trump said as the crowd erupted in boos. He later added: “Just remember, what you’re seeing and what you’re reading is not what’s happening…”
Progressive news site ThinkProgress made comparisons between Mr Trump’s speech in Kansas and a line from the late Mr Orwell’s novel that read: “The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
Many on social media have also since chimed in noting comparisons between the US president’s words and 1984.
This was not the first time Mr Trump’s words had been compared to Mr Orwell’s novel. Last year, a number of opinion pieces addressed ways in which Mr Trump’s administration might have similar themes to those explored in 1984. The president’s choice of cabinet appointments, and his strong claims of voter fraud in the US – which have repeatedly been debunked – were a few of the examples that were cited.
During his speech, Mr Trump addressed putting tariffs on imported cars amid an upcoming visit to the White House by one of the leaders of the European Union, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
“The European Union is coming to Washington tomorrow to negotiate a deal on Trade,” Mr Trump wrote on Twitter the night prior to the visit. “I have an idea for them. Both the [US] and the EU drop all Tariffs, Barriers and Subsidies! That would finally be called Free Market and Fair Trade! Hope they do it, we are ready – but they won’t!”
Mr Trump later added during his speech that in order to “keep America great” the administration would have to make “at least reasonable” trade deals.
