The real Donald Trump live on Truth Social

As the Republican presidential candidates start to offer something more than Donald Trump‘s various paybacks, President Biden figures running against ’MAGA’ is his path to a second term. Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Donald Trump suggested the other day that Gen. Mark Milley, the nation’s highest military officer, deserves execution — as in death. He said NBC should be investigated for treason and that the FBI should raid the homes of Senate Democrats. Then he accused President Biden of being manipulated by “the Fascists in the White House.”

If Republicans missed these remarks, they must not be following Mr. Trump’s feed on Truth Social, his media site. But reading him there is the way to get a direct mind-meld with Mr. Trump’s true social and political self.

Here was part of Mr. Trump’s send-off for Mr. Milley, who’s finishing his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs: “This guy turned out to be a Woke train wreck who, if the Fake News reporting is correct, was actually dealing with China to give them a heads up on the thinking of the President of the United States. This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!”

We realise no one is supposed to take Mr. Trump’s words seriously, but what if some crank does and decides to shoot Gen. Milley in his retirement?

Donald Trump suggested the other day that Gen. Mark Milley, the nation’s highest military officer, deserves execution — as in death. Pictured is Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley. Picture: Bill Clark via Getty Images)

How about a campaign pledge to abridge the First Amendment? Mr. Trump: “Comcast, with its one-side and vicious coverage by NBC NEWS, and in particular MSNBC, often and correctly referred to as MSDNC (Democrat National Committee!), should be investigated for its ‘Country Threatening Treason.’ … I say upfront, openly, and proudly, that when I WIN the Presidency of the United States, they and others of the LameStream Media will be thoroughly scrutinised for their knowingly dishonest and corrupt coverage.”

Mr. Trump also uses Truth Social to amplify unhinged posts from others, including one recently calling the 2021 Capitol riot a “Fedsurrection,” involving Antifa leftists in MAGA disguise, and “the Deep State co-ordinated their actions through proxies.” Mr. Trump or his social-media team hit the button to “retruth” this lunacy to his millions of followers.

Some Republicans are feeling giddy these days because US President Joe Biden is down in the polls. Picture: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Some Republicans are feeling giddy these days because Mr. Biden is down in the polls, losing head-to-head even against Mr. Trump. But many voters may have forgotten what it was like to hear from, and live with, Mr. Trump day after day. As President, Mr. Biden gets more attention now, and Mr. Trump is ducking the GOP presidential debates.

But if Mr. Trump is nominated again, his every word will get attention. That’s the baggage Republicans will carry — and the reason Democrats think even Mr. Biden can win.

The Wall Street Journal