“He was the U.S. Attorney who did absolutely nothing on the massive Election Fraud that took place in Philadelphia and throughout the commonwealth,” said Trump. “[Former Attorney General Bill] Barr told him not to do anything (because Barr was afraid of being impeached by the Democrats), but he should have done his job anyway.”
For regular followers of Trump’s obsession with the 2020 election, this sort of rhetoric is nothing new. In the time since the 2020 election, he has turned election denialism into a litmus test for his support. Unless you are willing to say — contra facts — that the election was stolen from Trump, not only will you not get his endorsement but, as McSwain is experiencing, he may well attack you.
But, there’s something unique and noteworthy in Trump’s un-endorsement that is telling about how he views not just the 2020 election but also how he views the world.
Of McSwain Trump says (bolding is mine): “He knew what was happening and let it go. It was there for the taking and he failed so badly.”
“It was there for taking.”
In short: McSwain could have seized the election and given it to Trump. But he didn’t. Because in Trump’s words, he was a “coward.”
Trump’s approach to the world is contained in that sentiment. He believes might makes right, that you take what you can unless or until someone stops you. There’s no real room for right or wrong in that worldview. There’s just the dominant who take what they want and the weak who get taken from.
What Trump is mad at McSwain about is not that he overlooked some sort of damning evidence of election fraud. (Fact check: None exists.) It’s Trump believes that McSwain could have used his office to take the election for Trump and didn’t do it.
That’s the worst kind of person in Trump’s mind.