'The only way you can deal with bullies': Congresswoman explains how to stand up to Trump

Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan), who was elected to Congress after the retirement of her husband, former Rep. John Dingell (D-Michigan), has firsthand experience with what she refers to as "bullying" from former President Donald Trump.

In an essay for the New York Times, Dingell recalled being attacked by then-President Trump, who remarked that her late husband was "looking up" at her in the wake of her vote for his first impeachment, implying that her deceased spouse "was in hell."

"That’s the Trump way — the cruelty is the point, yet that awareness doesn’t make it any less painful. We’re human. He knows that, and he thrives on it," Dingell wrote. "I am not seeking a fight with Mr. Trump. It’s not easy to tangle with him, especially after that experience involving John. But I do know that hateful rhetoric cannot be ignored or become normalized. We have to stand up to bullies in this country, and we have to call out indignities."

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"In my view, the only way you can deal with bullies is to consistently call out their inexcusable behavior and stand in defense of those they choose to target," she continued.

Dingell repeatedly condemned the former president's Christmas Day message he posted to his Truth Social account, in which he wished for his political opponents to "ROT IN HELL." In response to her remarks, Trump unleashed on the Michigan Democrat, calling her a "loser" who didn't show an appropriate level of gratitude when he arranged funeral honors for her husband. Dingell told CNN at the time that this resulted in Trump supporters showing up "outside of [her] house with assault weapons."

"I cannot and will not be bullied or intimidated by anyone. Sometimes tyrants think women will cower. We cannot," Dingell wrote Saturday. "We have the strength and courage to do what is right and fight for the betterment of our communities."

"What I would encourage people to do, if attacked by Mr. Trump or his supporters, is to not be afraid to challenge the attack. Try to de-escalate the situation by presenting an alternative point of view calmly. Don’t let them bait you to descend to their level," she added. "[T]hat animosity is exacerbating the problem: We are watching very premeditated and carefully chosen words and actions by Mr. Trump that are stoking anger, further fueling a lack of trust in many institutions and creating a climate that is threatening democracy. Beware, the dangers are real."

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Click here to read Dingell's full op-ed (subscription required).