New York Post editorial board lashes out at Trump over 'threats of violence'

The editorial board of the New York Post on Friday published a memo to former President Donald Trump, urging him to "stop making threats of violence," and calling him "reprehensible" and "irresponsible," for saying that the county would be torn apart if he were to be indicted for taking classified materials. 

In a Thursday interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump claimed that he had declassified the documents seized by the FBI from his Mar-a-lago residence last month and warned that if he was charged with improperly handling government records, "it would just tear this country apart.”



"How reprehensible. How deeply irresponsible," the New York Post memo published the day after the radio show said of Trump's words.

"Just as he did on Jan. 6, 2021, Trump is stirring up the more radical elements of his base, then claiming he’s just making an observation," the opinion piece continued, highlighting those who trespassed into the Capitol Building following the former president's loss to Joe Biden. "He knows words have consequences, especially those of a former president."

"Note how it echoes his speech that day: 'We fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore,' an exhortation that preceded the attack on the Capitol."

The memo went on to accuse Trump of not actually caring about "law and order," based on his statement that an indictment would "tear the country apart."

"If Trump truly cared about 'law and order' as he claims, if his criticisms of Antifa and the anti-cop riots are to have any credibility, he would not suggest that his followers will tear the nation apart. But he doesn’t. Trump has again and again put self-interest over country."

"Trump has $100 million saved up in a political action committee; he can afford to fight the case," argued the editorial board. "If he’s indicted, he’ll have his day in court. That’s how it works. Think the Justice Department is biased? Say so. Believe there’s a double standard? Argue it… But stop making threats of violence."

The publication, which has been characterized as largely right-leaning, took some people by surprise with their call-out of the Republican politician, with some Twitter users praising them for standing up to Trump.

Others wondered that if a conservative newspaper was turning against Trump would he even garner enough support to win the Republican nomination if he runs for president again in 2024.