Does MAGA want 'unity' and peace?

Zach Weissmueller talked with Trump supporters at the Republican National Convention about heated rhetoric, the weaponization of government, and plans for unity.

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The Republican Party has toned down the rhetoric about the deep state and any talk of vengeance against former President Donald Trump's political enemies in this year's Republican National Convention. With Trump in a commanding polling lead following a near-assassination, the convention's theme is "unity." 

"Just like our ancestors, we must now come together, rise above past differences. Any disagreements have to be put aside, and go forward united as one people, one nation, pledging allegiance to one great, beautiful—I think it's so beautiful—American flag," Trump said in his closing speech.

The Trump supporters Reason spoke to at the convention weren't particularly heated, and many genuinely seemed to want both sides to tone down their rhetoric after the attempt on Trump's life.

"I'm hoping that some of the things that have been going on are way scaled back going forward," Glenn "Kane" Jacobs, the libertarian mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, told Reason. "Because it's horrible for our country, the situation that we're in. My fear is that a few weeks from now, we're right back here, and I hope that doesn't happen."

But will Trump's actions match his supporters' words? The statements and policy positions of those around him give us some clues. His former chief strategist and popular radio host Steve Bannon made it very clear that vengeance is on his agenda.

"We're being oppressed by an illegitimate regime that usurped power here, and that's what we have to break," Bannon told Tucker Carlson on a June 11 appearance on his show. "You see [former FBI deputy director Andrew] McCabe and these guys wetting themselves, 'They're going to come after us.' Damn right, we're going to come after you…within the rule of law."

Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation—a major sponsor of the conference and author of a 900-page policy brief called Project 2025—called for a "second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless, if the left allows it to be" on Bannon's show on July 2.

Bannon and conference sponsor Heritage Foundation aren't directly involved with the Trump campaign, but his new running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R–Ohio), is no stranger to heated rhetoric either. He once told The American Conservative that "our people hate the right people." Vance has also suggested that the right shouldn't necessarily reduce government power but rather "just seize the administrative state for our own purposes" and ignore any court rulings trying to stop that from happening. Trump has vowed to overhaul the Department of Justice (DOJ), and two of his former appointees authored a piece titled "The US Justice Department is Not Independent" that argues for the president's power to dismiss any DOJ lawyer who doesn't strictly "obey" the president's demands.

Watch the full video above to see Trump supporters react to these clips and share their thoughts about heated rhetoric, the weaponization of government, and plans for "unity."

Producer: Zach Weissmueller
Video Editor: Regan McDaniel

Photo Credits: Carol Guzy/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom; Anthony Behar/Sipa USA/Newscom; Dominic Gwinn/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom; Andrew Roth/Sipa USA/Newscom; Andrew Roth/Sipa USA/Newscom; Tom Williams/Roll Call/Newscom

Music Credits: “On the Prowl” by Max Hixon via Artlist; “Blueburst,” by Max Hixon via Artlist; “The Ride Out,” by Max Hixon via Artlist.

[cameronlewis]

I gotta the guy at 3:21 a lot of credit. He immediately asks for context to clarify a question. And very polite. Maybe there’s hope! 😊

[thumpergallino]

Maybe the media should tone down their kick-starting propaganda💁🏽‍♂️

[VicariousReality]

"I dont see the violence"
That is EXACTLY how EVERY ruling class want you, obedient, voting and blind.

[CK-jdwo-test]

Everyone needs to stop asking why doesn't the other side do x y and z and start asking why does our side do x y and z. Each side is going to continue to get worse and worse until each side holds itself accountable

[AkiraFelix-kl]

The anti-capitalist sentiment in the MAGA movement is enough for me to not give it any vocal support.

[SGobuck]

The people who thrived on division for 8 years are suddenly concerned about unity?

[microsoftpain]

"I don't know a single person, literally not one, who has been converted to libertarianism by the Libertarian Party." - Michael Malice
gotta include ReasonTV in that, too. Dave Smith is carrying this pro-liberty movement on his back.

[projectcontractors]

Everything's 'far right' when you're 'far left'.

[dapper]

J6 was more peaceful than the BLM Summer of Love....

[JK-tuxx]

Alright, ReasonTV is starting to sound VERY VICE-like post buyout.

[nebula]

The word "unity" is a bit of a misnomer here, and perhaps even misleading. The stark reality is that no one side will EVER get everything they want, so "unity" in my mind is when both "sides" meet somewhere in the middle. And there's some VERY difficult issues out there to tackle where this is nearly impossible, but I'm sure there's a way. There were also a few good points in here regarding the "weaponization" of government. I'd agree that kind of tactic has been used by both the left and the right in the past, and the only thing I really have to say is that those in power need to remember that at the end of the day, the government serves the people. The government and its institutions isn't supposed to be a sword wielded against your political enemies; it's a tool meant to elevate and support the people.

[JEP-Tech]

Screw unity. We can't be united because we literally want different things

No. The other side doesn't follow the rules.

[cameronmoore]

I use to advocate for unity, and technically still do, but not as actively as I used to.

I've been advocating for it since around 2006, when I first started getting into politics. And I've especially advcoated for democrats to tone down (if not entirely stop) the inaccurate "racism, homophobic, sexist, xenophobix, transphobic, etc" assertions.

It's been 20 years and it hasn't gotten any better, in fact, it's gotten worse. Republicans for a LONG time would be the bigger person and they wouldnt fight fire with fire. But how long whould that be expected not only to no avail, but to our detriment?

So, frankly, I don't think it's fair to ask "unity?" or "on both sides?" when one side for 2 decades had been decent while the other wrongfully tarnished the other's name.

If you ask me if I want unity, I'll say yes, but until the left shows they're serious about it, I'm not going to encourage Republicans be the bigger person and avoid inflammatory or divisive rhetoric any longer, as it has very sadly shown to not work. Just look into how the left's "they're racist!" rhetoric has convinced voters to avert or even detest Republicans.

Unfortunately, the left's dirty tactics are working. And being the bigger person has and will only hurt Republicans.

I wish I was wrong.

[AlsonamedDennis]

I have *never* heard a leftist interviewee ask, "is there context to that?"

[arat]

I cant even comment on this, keeps getting deleted.

[steveb]

What side primarily focuses on the nation and what side segregates their policies to address segregated groups - color, creed, union membership, etc?

[LibertyPlusTV]

Desperately trying to prove something that isn't true is definetly UNREASONABLE

[VerusVertus]

They keep bringing up Bannon but he is not involved in Trump's campaign.

The comments on JD Vance is fair and i don't know much about him but look at Pence and Kamala. The Vice President is practically useless and just a public figure. If he becomes the president, then yes. We may have more to worry about.

[bovinespongiformflu]

Does reason still pretend to be libertarian?