As concerned citizens we must take creative action to combat our swaggering President before he becomes a peacocking dictator. We must be brave and unwavering as we affirm the truth in direct opposition to disinformation coming from the administration of President Donald J. Trump.

Trump’s Inauguration 2017 (Left), President Obama’s Inauguration 2009 (Right). Photograph: Reuters

Watch a timelapse of the National Mall on Inauguration Day | PBS

Disinformation

Definition: intentionally false or misleading information that is spread in a calculated way to deceive target audiences. Please allow me to repeat those key words: ‘intentionally false’, ‘calculated’, ‘deceive target audiences’.

On January 21st, the administration of President Donald J. Trump engaged in exactly these activities when Press Secretary Sean Spicer stepped up to the podium and made the claim that Trump’s inauguration was the most watched in U.S. history…and had the best ratings.

“This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period,” the Press Secretary said- barked, actually.

Spicer wanted to make it very clear that the inauguration of Donald Trump was better attended than the inauguration of Barack Obama. The fact that the media reported otherwise seems to frustrate Spicer, presumably because it is an embarrassment to his boss, President Trump. Seems pretty childish, doesn’t it?That’s because it is, but here’s the important part. The part that we the people cannot let go without a punishment. Their response to this embarrassment: lie. Lie without shame. Speak clearly into the microphone, lie, and punctuate your sentence like you’re talking to a child. And, finally, take no questions.

Former White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush, Ari Fleischer, responded to Spicer’s statement by painting an ominous picture of President Trump and Secretary Spicer’s partnership.

Tweet from Ari Fleischer, Press Secretary under President George W. Bush from Jan 2001 — July 2003

Why does it matter?

It may seem comical that after just one day in office our President has proven himself to be every bit as thin skinned and petty as we had thought. You might be saying, “Ya, I get it. He lies about everything…” But that statement would be a reckless one. It amounts to nothing more than a careless shrugging off of the first signs of fascism in America.

We should be concerned, because if our President is bold enough to make such a blatant lie why wouldn’t he be bold enough to lie about something not so easily verifiable, say… an issue of national security, or relations between foreign powers, or his justifications for a declaration of war?

The People’s campaign to challenge disinformation: #LiesTrumpToldMe

I’m willing to bet that if you’re reading this you’ve known for a long time that Donald Trump is a dangerous manipulator. And while I’m glad you’re aware of the illegitimacy of most of what comes out of our Presudent’s mouth, I have to tell you, just knowing so ain’t enough. To start the resistance, we make a statement of our own.

That’s right, a counter statement. Short and sweet.

“No one watched your inauguration.”

Record yourself, look straight into the camera, and tell the world that no one watched Donald Trump’s inauguration. Post that on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and anywhere else. Use the hashtag #LiesTrumpToldMe.

This country needs common citizens who are willing and able to affirm the truth against the will of the regime. It is a revolutionary act to speak truth in opposition to disinformation.

Together we will be an army of common fact checkers. Everyday people that are not backing down from, shrugging off, or normalizing fascist disinformation campaigns. We will infuriate and frustrate President Trump’s attempts to control the narrative and set the tone.

It only takes a moment for you to stand up to the Trump administration in a provocative and firm way. Record the video and post.

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