The U.S. State Department issued layoff notices to more than 1,300 employees on Friday, in keeping with President Donald Trump’s pledge to streamline the federal government and reduce bureaucratic bloat.
Needless to say, Democrats, former diplomats, and mainstream media outlets strongly opposed the move and did not hesitate to voice their criticism.
The video below captured the emotional scene in the State Department lobby as staffers bade farewell to their colleagues.
Former diplomats lamented the news:
Susan Rice, who is best remembered for making the rounds on five cable news shows the Sunday after four Americans were killed in the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attacks and claiming the violence appeared to be a “spontaneous reaction” to an anti-Islamic video circulating on the internet, responded predictably to the firings:
This is literally superpower suicide. These are some of the most talented public servants doing critical work. Champagne corks are popping in Beijing and Moscow after they already emptied the wine cellars celebrating the end of USAID.
Somehow, Susan, I think we’ll survive.
Nicholas Burns, a Harvard professor and the Biden administration’s ambassador to China, opined, “These career American diplomats served our country well, were non-partisan and did not deserve to be fired at the height of their careers. We’ll be weaker without them. Historic mistake.
He added, “The mass firing of American diplomats will weaken the U.S. globally and is a gift to China.”
Lo and behold, one of the departing employees left behind some words of advice to her former co-workers. Taped to a mirror, the message read, “Colleagues, if you remain: RESIST FASCISM. Remember the oath you vowed to uphold.”
Consider, if you will, the following examples of the very real fascist deeds of the Biden administration.
Does anyone recall the brief rise and fall of the Disinformation Governance Board, which was led by Nina Jankowicz — the same official who famously sang about “fake news” to the tune of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”?
Or then-Attorney General Merrick Garland’s characterization of parents who spoke up at school board meetings as “domestic terrorists”?
Firing military personnel and health care providers who refused to take the experimental COVID vaccine?
Many of us do — which explains the derisive responses from conservatives shown below.
Over the past decade, the Left has normalized the most preposterous ideas imaginable. We’ve been told that men can become women — and even get pregnant, that a Trump victory would signal the end of democracy in America, and that asking voters to show ID at the ballot box is somehow racist. And the list goes on. Meanwhile, the legacy media have eagerly amplified these narratives, shaming anyone who refuses to parrot their talking points or dares to question them.
However, as the influence of the legacy media steadily declines and alternative news sources continue to grow, more Americans on the Right are standing up and pushing back against this manufactured reality. When the downsizing of the State Department staff is hysterically labeled “fascism,” it becomes clear just how detached from reality these accusations have become. Thankfully, the growing chorus of independent voices is calling out these absurdities, reminding us that sanity and common sense still have a place in public discourse.
Elizabeth writes commentary for Legal Insurrection and The Washington Examiner. She is an academy fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Please follow Elizabeth on X or LinkedIn.
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