'Unhinged': Trump's guillotine warning sends shudder of fear rippling across the U.S.
Former President Donald Trump shocked the nation Wednesday when he made a campaign cash-grab that included the declared "haul out the guillotine" — and warned that heads would roll if Joe Biden wins the election.
Trump's contradictory message — both summoning the mass execution device he's floated with staffers before then claiming it would be used against him and his allies — had critics relying on one word to describe the presumptive Republican nominee: "Unhinged."
"Completely unacceptable," journalist Amanda Carpenter wrote on X. "Beyond irresponsible. Gross. Disgusting. Unhinged."
"Trump’s fundraising emails have been absolutely balls to the wall unhinged for years," added X user Sam Clench.
"Today Trump has a post 'Haul out the Guillotine,'" wrote @Kathlee96449320. "There seems to be something almost daily that is 'unhinged'. This is all worse than unhinged."
The campaign email claim connected the former president's criminal conviction on falsifying business records to comedian Kathy Griffin's satirical 2017 photo in which she holds a Trump mask dripping with what looks like blood.
"Remember when that Sicko Kathy Griffin made the rounds parading my BEHEADED head when I was President?!" Trump wrote.
Griffin's notorious photo post spurred much outrage and resulted in a two-month investigation into whether she had conspired to assassinate a president, she revealed in 2018.
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"It's the first time a sitting United States president has used the full power of the Oval Office, the first family, the right-wing media and, more importantly, two departments within the Department of Justice to open an investigation on a private citizen who did nothing wrong," Griffin later said.
"To be honest, he broke me."
On Wednesday, Trump once again raised alarms about the dangerous impact violent rhetoric could have, critics said.
"Trump just sent an email telling his cult followers to 'Haul out the Guillotine'," wrote X user @AmberStiles80. "He knows exactly what his words inspire, from the lone wolf to mob violence."
"This is irresponsible and could impress on the wrong people to do stupid things!" added @nenavickie. "He will do anything to win the presidency!"
"TRUMP IS A DANGER," wrote X user Highly Motivated. "Trump is campaigning on violence. His newest fundraising email referencing using a guillotine. This is reminiscent of the “Hang Mike Pence.” chants, the make shift gallows with a noose & insurrection we witnessed on January 6th."