President-elect Biden’s Thanksgiving address was an important moment in the rhetorical and moral life of the nation. The remarks themselves were well-constructed, graceful and serious of purpose – an act of responsible governance even before taking the oath. 1/

The president-elect’s speech also contrasted starkly with a president on a descending path of cynicism, destructiveness, desperation and self-delusion. We always knew it could come to this: A direct attack on the functioning and legitimacy of American democracy. 2/

The coup has already occurred in Trump’s mind. Can there be any doubt he would keep power by overturning a legitimate election? Can there be any question he would snuff out the democratic voice of the nation if he could? He is incompetent. But can we doubt his intention? 3/

It is the interpretive key to Trump: He is anti-American. He has no respect for the country’s institutions or values. He is ignorant of the nation’s story, dismissive of its conventions and unmoved by its romance. 4/

Trump sees politics the way a Machiavellian would in any country – as the pursuit of power, not the stewardship of certain truths. 5/