Thoughts on the Election
It's the Elites vs. the People
**[NOTE: Oath Keepers™ has always been officially non-partisan. However, since our mission focuses on preserving and protecting the Constitution and the rights of the people, it's no surprise that the vast majority of us are Trump supporters and MAGA (America First!) patriots. I have personally supported President Trump since he first announced his campaign in 2016.]**
The big picture in this election is that the real struggle in America is, and has long been, between the elites and the people, rather than between political parties. This is why elites from both major political parties despise, hate, and fear President Trump and his increasingly eclectic base of supporters, just as they feared other political outsiders, mavericks, and truth-tellers in the past who threatened their power and control.
Specifically, elites from both parties (the so-called "uniparty") despise and fear those who dare to "speak truth to power"—who question their propaganda, call out their lies, challenge their authoritarian agenda, and seek unity and common ground with other truth-tellers. That’s why "they" increasingly despise and fear individuals like Joe Rogan and Elon Musk, who genuinely practice free speech and allow others to do the same without fear. They deeply fear Rogan's three-hour "long form" interviews, where he engages courageous free thinkers from across the political and social spectrum—from Dr. Jordan B. Peterson to Dr. Malone, Yeonmi Park (author of "While Time Remains"), and even President Trump—in deep, wide-ranging discussions on nearly any topic imaginable. That’s terrifying to the elites because it’s out of their control, and they fear the loss of narrative control more than anything else.
This is also why they despise and fear Elon Musk, who purchased Twitter and sincerely aims to make it a true free speech platform—now out of elite control. Musk also exposed how Deep State intelligence agencies (FBI, DHS, CIA, etc.) were directly involved in internal Twitter decisions about which voices to censor, shadow ban, or outright ban, as well as what narratives to promote. I was one of those voices purged from Twitter, as was Oath Keepers™ itself—and we were purged months before the 2020 election, along with many others, as Twitter went full Orwellian during the summer of 2020 amid COVID and Black Lives Matter riots.
Musk bought Twitter and pulled back the curtain on the growing "ministry of truth," exposing how big government and big tech/big media have become intertwined in crafting propaganda—like two dogs, as famed trial lawyer Gerry Spence described the coupling of big business and big government.
The elites fear truth-tellers and free speech advocates because what they really fear is the truth. As my old boss, Ron Paul, said, "Truth is treason in the empire of lies." Above all, the elites fear the truth becoming known to the American people, who still have the power to stop the elite’s relentless quest for total control—if we can unify in time and focus on the true "enemy of democracy" rather than on each other. As President Trump says, "They're really after you; I'm just in their way."
The elites also hate people like Robert Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard for putting country above party and daring to speak truth to power, exposing the corruption, lies, and authoritarian goals of the elites within their own party. Both were Democratic Party stars until they began speaking these uncomfortable truths. They were then targeted for marginalization, intimidation, and demonization in hopes they would be silenced.
This is why Tulsi Gabbard now experiences the Orwellian "SSSS" designation whenever she flies—meaning she’s on the "No Fly Without Permission" list. She cannot get a boarding pass until a desk agent calls DHS/TSA for approval, and she’s subjected to invasive pat-downs and searches. She even notices Air Marshals seated around her (as a former Army officer, she recognizes them). Is Gabbard, a former Army Major and Congress member, a true "security threat"? Of course not. It’s meant to intimidate her into silence.
I know exactly what that’s like, as I too received the "SSSS" designation every time I flew after founding Oath Keepers™. What did I do wrong? I’m a disabled Airborne infantry veteran and Yale Law graduate who dared to found an organization encouraging military personnel to uphold their oath to the Constitution. For that, I was treated like a terror suspect every time I flew—a surreal experience since, post-9/11, I was exactly the kind of trained veteran you’d want on a flight if real terrorists attempted a takeover. After Trump was inaugurated, that designation disappeared, confirming its political nature.
In retrospect, that designation was a badge of honor. You know you’re over the target when you’re getting heavy flak. I’m sure Tulsi feels the same, and her resolve has likely only grown stronger. I admire her courage, conviction, and stubborn resolve. Like Trump, the more they try to intimidate her, the more resolute and defiant she becomes.
Robert Kennedy Jr. has spoken out against big pharma for decades. But because of his family name, he was tolerated within the Democratic Party until he refused to stay silent on COVID shots and dared to run against Joe Biden. At that point, he was drummed out of the increasingly authoritarian Democratic Party and launched an independent presidential campaign—only to be denied Secret Service protection, despite both his father and uncle being assassinated. The message is clear: it's open season on RFK Jr.
For both Gabbard and Kennedy, attempts to silence them backfired, pushing both to "walk away" from the Democratic Party and seek common ground with Trump and his MAGA movement, bringing their supporters with them.
The same thing happened with Ron Paul’s presidential campaign in 2008 (and again in 2012). His campaign attracted many former Democrats who distrusted the GOP establishment but saw Paul as a true anti-establishment, anti-war, pro-Constitution candidate. So, they walked away from the Democratic Party and joined Paul’s campaign. Later, many of those same former Democrats joined Oath Keepers, standing with lifelong conservatives and libertarians for the Constitution and individual rights, which should always come before any party.
Right after I founded Oath Keepers™, mainstream media, deep state entities, and organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center labeled us "anti-government extremists," "conspiracy theorists," and even implied racism simply because we stood up for the Constitution. During the Obama administration, we were called "anti-government extremists." When Trump was elected, we were suddenly "fascists."
Now, all Trump supporters—or really, anyone opposing the elites—are labeled "fascists," "Nazis," "anti-democratic," or "white supremacist." Trump himself is called a "new Hitler" who holds "Nazi rallies" and will imprison his opponents (projection at its finest!). So, is Tulsi Gabbard a "Nazi"? Is RFK Jr. a "fascist"? Are the increasing numbers of Black and Hispanic Trump supporters "Nazis"? Biden himself dismisses these groups as "garbage." It’s nonsense, but it’s the establishment’s tactic.
The elite's efforts to defame and destroy dissenters can be "soft" power—such as de-platforming and demonetizing—or "hard" power, with investigations, lawsuits, or even criminal charges. Just ask Trump or any J-6 defendant.
The slander campaign may still deceive some Americans, but it’s losing effectiveness. That’s why elites are gradually replacing working-class Americans, Black and Hispanic alike, with a new voting bloc of illegal immigrants. That's their long-term strategy—along with election fraud.
I believe Trump will win if the election is fair. However, expect fraud, especially given efforts by the DOJ to prevent purges of illegal voters from Virginia’s rolls, as one example. The Democrats’ lawsuits against election integrity initiatives nationwide are telling—they want it to be easy to commit fraud because that’s their plan. Nothing else explains it.
- Stewart Rhodes, Founder of Oath Keepers™