The Republican Party in Arizona is still trying to push forward the thoroughly debunked conspiracy theory that President Donald Trump really won reelection. In reality, President-elect Joe Biden defeated Trump with record numbers, garnering over 7 million more votes and 74 more electoral votes.
They have tried to paint their efforts to overturn the will of the voters as patriotic, rather than undemocratic. As a part of this propaganda campaign, the President is often depicted as a man in the ideological lineage of the founding fathers.
On Monday night, the Arizona GOP decided to take this depiction to new artistic heights.
https://t.co/nwpBk3SnYm— Republican Party of Arizona (@Republican Party of Arizona) 1609199287.0
Here it is in all its majestic glory.
@AZGOP/Twitter
While the intent of the painting was to depict the President as a true heir to American revolutionary patriotism, others saw something else in it.
The Arizona Republican Party tweets out a portrait of Trump grasping a gun dressed like Benedict Arnold. This is so… https://t.co/deAZe73rO0— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1609264466.0
Donald trump should replace Benedict Arnold in history as America's most reviled traitor.— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@BrooklynDad_Defiant!) 1609254158.0
@AZGOP OMG. Benedict Arnold. You nailed it!— Tina Bobina (@Tina Bobina) 1609264130.0
Trump's remaining supporters tried to dress him up like an American war figure, but they picked Benedict Arnold bec… https://t.co/OpEPewKO9B— Palmer Report (@Palmer Report) 1609257049.0
I can make a pretty good argument that Benedict Arnold's actions were more justifiable than Donald Trump*s. The le… https://t.co/i4TaYYk1zs— Mark Judson For Congress - Scorched Earth Dem 2022 (@Mark Judson For Congress - Scorched Earth Dem 2022) 1609253084.0
Donald trump should replace Benedict Arnold in history as America's most reviled traitor.— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@BrooklynDad_Defiant!) 1609254158.0
How ironic that Donald Trump's supporters dressed him up just like the man whose name is synonymous with being a tr… https://t.co/hklIJm7SaZ— Grant Stern is fully vaccinated (@Grant Stern is fully vaccinated) 1609255526.0
@DanRather But there is a difference between Benedict Arnold and @realDonaldTrump. https://t.co/9ApPp4IloN— Trickracee (@Trickracee) 1609266791.0
Others felt Arizona GOP sharing the painting was just unhinged.
pic.twitter.com/oen3L2I4g7
— Krys10iam🇺🇸 (@krys10iam) December 29, 2020
@MollyJongFast @AZGOP When I lived in Arizona in the 1980s-90s, I was a Republican and we had sane GOP elected lead… https://t.co/S5Ym36C3nd— Pierre Atlas (@Pierre Atlas) 1609267362.0
Please stop. https://t.co/w1yilIgi3v— Meghan McCain (@Meghan McCain) 1609263450.0
@Grannytologist @MeghanMcCain All you have to do is look at the type of person who admires Trump, He has always app… https://t.co/50Xmd8UcNR— Efilnikufesin (@Efilnikufesin) 1609272499.0
As a DAR chapter officer with probably more Revolutionary vet ancestors than anyone in your entire political party (they got land in Nashville as payment for their service), this is one of the most offensive things I've ever seen.
— Nashville Cat #KamalaLaLa Y'all! 🥁 (@JTQ_615) December 29, 2020
@thor_benson @AZGOP It’s all fun and games until they’re forced to drink the KoolAid. https://t.co/lOLEr9Dwbb— Melinda D. (@Melinda D.) 1609205665.0
And of course, there was a good amount of snark to go around.
There were fish in the barrel and the Arizona GOP handed Twitter a gun.
pic.twitter.com/V3cNNZOy2j
— Jamie Schler (@lifesafeast) December 29, 2020
Oh my, that is funny.
What Trumpers see What everyone else sees pic.twitter.com/soBVnqxyZo
— Sandy's Farm 🛹 ⚜ (@SandysFarm53) December 29, 2020
I see that bald eagle swooping in to take that American flag away from him.
— Amanda Stevens (@AdamantSevens) December 29, 2020
The Eagle is about to bank right and go for the hair.
— Aaron Wilson (@Mojeans86) December 30, 2020
Trump meets eagle.
It's cute how you gave him adult-sized hands, though. pic.twitter.com/hOIipocEx5
— Leslie - 21 to 46.🇺🇲 (@Leslieoo7) December 29, 2020
Let's get a closeup. There that's better. pic.twitter.com/BS2jp5JjDK
— CB🌎🦅✊ (@CarlyleBlkwl18) December 29, 2020
So, during Viet Nam, he had bone spurs, for like 5 deferments.
Based on his understanding of the Constitution, he would never be confused with a founding father.
As weak (or unsteady?) as he is lifting a glass of water, I doubt he could even aim that pistol.
So, pure fantasy.
— Keith "Anonymous Source" Huffstutler (@dropper99) December 29, 2020
On real earth he actually dodged the draft repeatedly and is afraid of eagles pic.twitter.com/kCI9cbog85
— LC 🌊 🆘 (@AZDem_w_Dogs) December 29, 2020
Was this painted when he was dodging the Vietnam draft, when he mocked John McCain's service, when he refused to say a word about Putin's bounties on US troops, or when he called US service members "suckers" and "losers"?
— Dennis Perkins (@DennisPerkins5) December 29, 2020
Also when he debased a Gold Star family, mocked a disabled reported, refused to go to Normandy cemetery bc it was raining and his hair would get wet, when he sided with Putin against our own Intelligence Community in Helsinki, put a bounty on our soldiers and did nothing.
— Annette Pora (@annette_pora) December 29, 2020
pic.twitter.com/21WZI3SX8M
— Paul Eenhoorn (@PEenhoorn) December 29, 2020
President-elect Biden is going to have a very full plate when he takes office on January 20th.