Democratic leaders are "enemies within"

Question

This article discusses how JD Vance has been defending Donald Trumps recent statements regarding how Democratic leaders are “enemies within,” and more dangerous than foreign countries such as China and Russia. Is there any fact behind his claims?

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna177447

Answer 1

This quote came from an interview that Trump did with Fox News, calling the democrats the enemy within and a greater threat than any foreign adversary. In the interview Trump singled out Adam Schiff as an example of the enemy within, calling him a "lunatic"

Trump's dislike of Schiff appears to come from Schiff's prominent role in the first Trump impeachment in 2019 over Trump and his campaign's connections to Russia during the 2016 election.

(https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/-enemy-trump-claims-democrats-are-dangerous-us-foreign-adversaries-rcna175198).

In a separate interview, he doubled down on his comments, this time calling out Nancy Pelosi and labeling her and other democrats as "Marxists and communists and fascists"

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-democrats-enemies-within-rcna175628

Trump's "enemy within" comment, at least in this case, is targeted at his own political enemies, and not based in any sort of threat to the nation as a whole. It is a very vague and opinionated statement that aligns with his rhetoric, not a statement that is supported with evidence.

Comments

I agree with your analysis. There is no evidence that Democratic leaders are in any way to the United States, especially compared foreign countries like China and Russia. This is false, and nothing more than a talking point thrown around by Trump to try to rile up his followers.