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‘Enemies of civilization’: top Trump officials disparage leftism at event

The Guardian's profile
Original Story by The Guardian
July 16, 2026
‘Enemies of civilization’: top Trump officials disparage leftism at event

Context:

Top Trump officials convened 66 nations to frame leftist violence as a primary global threat, centering the meeting on eradicating leftist activism while largely omitting right-wing violence. Key speakers, including Marco Rubio and Stephen Miller, delivered harsh, dehumanizing rhetoric that branded leftists as enemies of civilization and urged a transnational campaign to dismantle networks. The event linked leftist groups to Iranian proxies and invoked an executive memorandum as a blueprint for intensified repression, even as one speaker briefly acknowledged constitutional rights. The gathering signals a continued, aggressive stance against domestic political opponents, with limited discussion of legal constraints or civil liberties beyond selective lip service. The outcome points to a broader push to label and suppress leftist movements across allied countries, with unclear legal weight but evident strategic momentum.

Dive Deeper:

  • The ministerial gathering was organized by Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, with Stephen Miller and Scott Bessent in attendance, and involved 66 countries including Argentina, Canada, France, Germany and Spain.

  • Rubio used sweeping, dehumanizing language toward leftist activists, describing them as an encroaching darkness and enemies of civilization, and pledged to dismantle their networks brick by brick.

  • Miller framed the left as driven by envy and hatred, dismissing civil liberties in the face of what he called leftist violence, and urged unwavering pursuit of those considered enemies of civilization.

  • The speakers highlighted a linkage between leftist groups and Iranian proxy networks, suggesting a global interconnected threat rather than isolated domestic incidents.

  • Both Rubio and Miller cited National Security Presidential Memorandum-7 as a blueprint for confronting leftist violence, though it was unclear how much legal weight it carried.

  • Scott Bessent offered a nod to free speech, insisting constitutional rights must be respected in the fight against domestic terrorism, despite the overtly punitive framing of leftist movements.

  • The report notes that right-wing incidents, such as the January 6 Capitol riot, were not referenced, underscoring the event’s narrow focus on leftist activism and the broader political aim of labeling opponents.

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