President Trump and his allies have insisted that he is the victim of a left-wing media-inspired “deep state” coup conspiracy to deny him the presidency. Yet coup-talk, even meant as a joke, is no laughing matter.

In late April, Hendrik Hertzberg-a journalist at The New Yorker and former chief speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter-took to Twitter to muse about whether it was “ time for a military coup.” Hours later, Nick Hanauer, a venture capitalist-turned-critic of economic inequality, tweeted: “At what point do the Joint Chiefs of Staff just come to terms with the fact that the POTUS has lost his marbles and is insane, and just take him out?” Hertzberg backtracked quickly, clarifying that he was being sarcastic. Guest post by John Chin, Joseph Wright, and David CarterĪs frustration mounts over President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, where COVID-19 has, according to the latest estimates, killed over 100,000 Americans, some on the American left have apparently taken ill with coup fever.

Hearts of iron 4 coup