The Republican Accountability PAC has launched a compelling ad campaign titled “Dictator Donald,” accusing former President Donald Trump of echoing the tactics of historical dictators. The campaign, reported by Newsweek on Saturday, December 23, 2023, is set to air nationally on MSNBC, CNN, Hallmark Channel, and TBS’ A Christmas Story marathon, strategically targeting a wide audience during the holiday season.
The ad, responding to Trump’s claim that he would act like a dictator on “day one” of a new administration, spotlights a December 2022 Truth Social post where Trump called for the “termination” of articles of the Constitution. Drawing parallels with figures such as Mussolini, Chávez, and Pinochet, the ad’s narrator asserts that all these leaders dismantled their constitutions to consolidate power.
Furthermore, the ad alleges Trump’s intent to “purge tens of thousands of civil servants” and replace them with loyalists if re-elected in 2024, drawing a comparison to Viktor Orbán’s tactics in Hungary. The urgency of the situation is emphasized in the ad’s conclusion, issuing a warning to viewers: “The alarm is going off; everyone needs to wake up. We have a choice between protecting our democracy or letting Trump destroy it.”
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The commercial, confirmed to run from December 26-29 on MSNBC and CNN, December 22-28 on Hallmark Channel, and during TBS’ A Christmas Story marathon, underscores the Republican Accountability Group’s intention to maximize exposure during the holiday season. The narrator concludes with a somber reminder of Trump’s role in the Capitol insurrection, bluntly stating, “He caused an insurrection at the Capitol, and sorry to ruin your Christmas, but he’s running again.”
Targeting key swing states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—the PAC has invested $200,000 in this campaign, seeking to influence the discourse leading up to the 2024 election.
The Republican Accountability Group traces its origins back to the Capitol insurrection on January 6, condemning Trump and congressional Republicans for falsely claiming the election had been stolen. Since August, the group has released three more six-figure advertisements, criticizing Trump’s Georgia indictment and incoming House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Spokeswoman Kase Cronin clarified that the organization currently has no plans to support any other candidates in the GOP race. This campaign serves as a stark reminder of the events of January 6, 2021, and raises questions about the future direction of the Republican party. As the 2024 election looms, the impact of this ad on both Trump supporters and critics will undoubtedly shape the ongoing discourse surrounding the fate of American democracy.
