When one party wins the White House, the other party is usually referred to as the opposition. But that not might not be the case with Donald Trump. Well before Trump takes the oath of office, a number of his opponents have begun calling themselves the “resistance.”
“#NeverTrump must become #TheResistance” was the headline of an item by Washington Post blogger Jennifer Rubin calling for “resistance to the new administration’s immoral, dangerous and foolish actions.” Rubin advocated creating “a bipartisan grouping — call it The Resistance” to oppose Trump. “#NeverTrump — joining with Democratic allies — needs to become #TheResistance or we will find ourselves down the road of excess, corruption, authoritarianism and bigotry before Trump even takes office,” she wrote.
“Obama loyalists plot Trump resistance” was the headline of a Politico story about Obama alumni meeting in Chicago, New York, and in Washington “conference rooms and living rooms, plotting the resistance over beer and hummus.”
“The DJT Resistance” is a new organization launched by Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King. The group proposes boycotting companies whose top officials support Trump. “Join The Resistance,” the group says, “Where WE make hatred bigotry, xenophobia, sexism, racism, and greed pay the price.”
“The Trump resistance movement builds,” reported the BBC.
“The anti-Trump resistance takes shape,” reported the Guardian. Among the components of that resistance noted by the paper is a new group in Oregon, Portland’s Resistance.
“In order to survive President Trump there needs to be a strong resistance,” the group says on its Facebook page. “Our group believes that Portland has an opportunity to become a beacon of light for the rest of the nation.”
Calling themselves the “resistance” seems intended to give ordinary political opposition a patina of courage and moral rectitude. The association, of course, is with resistance to Nazis in World War II. The further suggestion is that resistance members are true patriots fighting an invading force, citizens banding together (over beer and hummus) to stand up against seemingly overwhelming odds. And all that, still two months before Donald Trump becomes President Trump.
