NPR Tweeted Declaration of Independence, and Trump Supporters Flipped Out

By Matt Novak, Gizmodo

05 July 17

 

PR tweeted the entire Declaration of Independence in 140-character chunks yesterday to celebrate Independence Day. But more than a few people thought that the tweets were a political stance against Donald Trump. Seriously.

241 years ago today, church bells rang out over Philadelphia as the Declaration of Independence was adopted https://t.co/PAcHgLqOUE

— NPR (@NPR) July 4, 2017

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most cherished documents in the United States. We even make movies about it like it’s the Ark of the Covenant. But some Trump supporters were a bit confused yesterday, and saw phrases like “unworthy the Head of a civilized nation” as biased. They assumed that NPR was blasting the current president rather than King George in 1776.

NPR has been reading the Declaration of Independence on air in a tradition that dates back 29 years. And in fairness, the Declaration of Independence is a pretty anti-authoritarian document. So it makes sense that people might believe that it’s a statement against all tyrants.

But you’d think that people who want to “make America great again” might recognize the words of the Declaration of Independence. I guess not.

The line about the right of the people to abolish the current government and form a new one struck a chord with some Trump enthusiasts.

So, NPR is calling for revolution.
Interesting way to condone the violence while trying to sound "patriotic".
Your implications are clear.

— D.G.Davies (@JustEsrafel) July 4, 2017

And some people were particularly offended by the line about King George being an “unworthy” leader of a civilized nation, believing that perhaps NPR was talking about a different tyrant:

and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

— NPR (@NPR) July 4, 2017

Some Trump supporters even called the Declaration of Independence “trash”:

While others assumed that the word “obstructed” might be a little to close the charges of “obstruction” against President Trump:

as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

— NPR (@NPR) July 4, 2017

And even after it was pointed out that NPR was simply tweeting the Declaration of Independence, some people still saw an anti-Trump political motivation in the whole process:

NPR tweeted out the Declaration of Independence and people had no clue what they were talking about

(pics via @ParkerMolloy) #July4th pic.twitter.com/wn4ThfApk6

— Someone's An Idiot (@SomeonesAnIdiot) July 5, 2017

Because apparently NPR needs more “balance,” maybe by reading out the arguments made by supporters of King George in 1776?

LISTEN: A July 4th Tradition: The Declaration Of Independence, Read Aloud https://t.co/yGgJElX3KS pic.twitter.com/owruPZ0wdX

— NPR (@NPR) July 4, 2017

Yes, some Trump supporters believe that you gotta hear both sides. If you’re going to tweet out the Declaration of Independence, why not The Art of the Deal or other texts written by authoritarians? You don’t want to be seen as biased now, do you?

But I guess this is where we’re at as a country. The nation’s most treasured texts are being interpreted as protests against the president. Which really makes you wonder what Trump supporters stand for. If the Declaration of Independence is now anti-American, what counts as patriotic?

Ah yes, a song about making American great again that has North Korean-levels of creepiness. That’ll do.

[NPR and Goth Ms. Fizzle and Alexandra Aimee]