Facing a New Political Reality: Am I the “Enemy Within?”
Elections & Politics #137 | By: Morgan Davidson| November 6, 2024
Featured Photo by: Rosemary Ketchum on Pexels
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Most of my life, I’ve enjoyed the benefits of safety and comfort. When I’ve been pulled over by the police, I never feared for my life—though I felt anxious because I hate being in trouble. My parents had instructed me on what to do in these situations, but they never warned me to fear an officer might draw a weapon.
I’ve never felt afraid to walk down the street at night, whether in my small hometown, on my college campus, or in metro areas. I’m proud to say that I was an All-State football player in Texas, and my size has always helped me feel secure. Yet, I often walk with my wife, colleagues, and other American women who, unlike me, do feel unsafe in these spaces.
As a Ph.D. student who recently passed my comps and defended my thesis, I am now a Ph.D. candidate—a milestone I’m proud of. Although my academic achievements have been rewarding, I now wonder what they mean for me, my family, and fellow Americans who deeply believe in democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental decency.
“We have the outside enemy, and then we have the enemy from within, and the enemy from within, in my opinion, is more dangerous than China, Russia and all these countries.”
“If any of us want to do the things that we want to do for our country, and for the people who live in it, we have to honestly and aggressively attack the universities in this country.”
“He’s talking about anyone who doesn’t support him or who will not bend to his will as an enemy of our country.”
As a proud Harris-Walz voter, I am far from a radical leftist, Communist, or Socialist, and certainly not a fascist. Yet, in the return to Donald Trump’s America, I know I am perceived as all of these things.
I have pleaded with family members, social media followers, and readers of my writing to make a choice that would protect my rights as a prospective father, husband, and American. Despite my efforts, particularly with those closest to me, I’ve fallen short. Now, in Trump’s America, I find myself labeled an “enemy from within.”
In an unsettling way, I feel relief that Trump won, as his victory may mean less violence, less risk to lives, and no repeat of January 6th. Yet I am deeply afraid of what his victory represents for people like me—those who believe in democracy, defend our institutions, and trust that America can be a place for all creeds, races, religions, and political beliefs.
As this so-called “enemy from within,” I can assure you that I will not advocate for reversing the election results. I will not suggest that Vice President Kamala Harris has a constitutional obligation to overturn the results, and I will not violently challenge the outcome in January. Ask yourself: would the candidate you supported uphold these core principles of democracy had they lost?
In my hometown, I’ve seen Facebook posts calling for the public release of voter records and for Democratic voters to be prosecuted for treason. Although Trump hasn’t explicitly stated this, he has hinted at it, calling out “enemies from within” and suggesting military action against people like me. Supporting Trump doesn’t mean endorsing every part of his agenda, but for those of us who supported Harris, for families who migrated to escape cartel violence, for those who cherish freedom, and for academics, it raises a troubling question: Are we now seen as threats? Hopefully not; hopefully, it was just campaign rhetoric—but time will tell.
Even if Trump supporters didn’t agree with every part of his platform, the dangers his rhetoric and its violent consequences—especially on January 6th—were not deal breakers for them. The personal risks his movement poses to people like me, my family, and others who value democratic principles were ultimately outweighed by other priorities in the minds of those who voted for him.
Engagement Resources
- Here is a fact check on the enemy from within- https://www.politifact.com/article/2024/oct/30/trump-is-talking-more-about-the-enemy-from-within/
- You can see Vances comments on Universities here- https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2024/07/16/trump-taps-jd-vance-sharp-critic-higher-ed-vp
- 2024 election results can be found here- https://apnews.com/ap-elections-explained
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