I Cried on National TV. Trump Never Lets Me Forget It.
Do you think less of me for it?
The January 6th Select Committee had just convened for the first time and it was my turn to speak.
When I got to the part of my remarks honoring the Capitol Police for their bravery, my voice broke. “But you guys won. You guys held,” I said as my emotions poured through.
The gratitude and humility I felt for the men and women who stood against the violent mob called down on the U.S. Capitol by Donald Trump was just too strong to pretend that I wasn’t moved.
And I cried.
Ever since that day, Donald Trump and MAGA have used those tears, that human moment, to attack me.
Trump has even mocked me from the podium several times.
Just about every social media post of mine is immediately flooded with images of people crying with taunts from what are surely mostly Russian bots.
But, I have a question: do YOU think less of me for my tears?
Before you answer, I have a confession. I’ve cried other times in my life, and it’s time to come clean about it.
I cried when my son was born.
I cried when my grandparents passed.
And, despite being a pretty stoic guy, I’ve cried other times too.
And that Trump views genuine human emotion as a weakness to exploit? It tells us everything we need to know about him.
That’s why, despite threats against me and my family, I refuse to be silenced by Trump and his minions.
Because if the women and men of the Capitol Police were willing to stare down the mob, the least I can do is keep speaking out against the authoritarians who are trying to destroy this country.
And that’s what this Substack is. An independent media project to speak the truth no matter they throw at me.
So, I’m asking: do you think less of me for crying?
If so, you have probably only read this far to see if there is anything you can make fun of me for.
If not, please consider joining the fight. Becoming a paid subscriber is the best way to support my work. It’s also the best way to flip Donald Trump the biggest (metaphorical) middle finger in America.
I’m grateful for your support and I’m grateful that you are here as part of this very human movement to oppose the cruelty of Donald Trump.
Onwards, together, tears and all.
- Adam