NPR Tweeted the Words of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. Trump Supporters Are Accusing Them of Propaganda.
‘So, NPR Is Calling for Revolution’
In 1776 the words of the Declaration of Independence were not just controversial, the men who signed the document could have been put to death for treason against England. 241 years later, those words are still capable of stirring controversy – from conservative Americans who often call themselves “patriots” and claim they love the founding document.
For 29 years NPR, National Public Radio, has read the words of the Declaration of Independence aloud on-air every Fourth of July.Â
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
This year, they thought it was a good idea to tweet the words of our Founding Fathers.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
— NPR (@NPR) July 4, 2017
It didn’t go as expected.
Some Trump supporters, conservatives, and far right wing extremists, decided that NPR was pushing, to quote one Twitter user, “propaganda,” as a reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press noted with a screenshot:
*heavy sigh* pic.twitter.com/Pb35SNdKqe
— Melissa Martin (@DoubleEmMartin) July 4, 2017
Another:
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
In Davies’ defense, he offered up an apology, and admitted his mistake:
I Tweeted a VERY dumb comment. But ask yourselves; if read to the average American, would they know that you were reading the DOI? I do now.
— D.G.Davies (@JustEsrafel) July 5, 2017
Most others were content with their opinions:
DEFUND #NPR let the Hollywood Elites pay for your biased propaganda
— Diesel 👌🇺🇸👠(@ScandalSheet) July 4, 2017
This Twitter user’s bio reads: “Libertarian. Christian. Ex-writer for big news. Blackballed media journalist thanks to left wing/feminist job lynch mob.”
this is why you’re going to get defunded
— Darren Mills 🇺🇸 (@darren_mills) July 4, 2017
Seriously, this is the dumbest idea I have ever seen on twitter. Literally no one is going to read 5000 tweets about this trash.
— Darren Mills 🇺🇸 (@darren_mills) July 4, 2017
More:
Horsechit
— Terry (@xebec78) July 4, 2017
Twitter user Alexandra documented others:
When you’re triggered by the Declaration of Independence because you want so badly to submit to King Donald the Doll-Handed…. pic.twitter.com/JYjA7mP1UQ
— Alexandra 🦅 (@AlexandraAimee) July 4, 2017
Other users on Twitter shared their thoughts about the reaction from the right:
The MAGAs saw this and were outraged that @NPR was tweeting shade at Trump. It wasn’t. It was tweeting the Declaration of Independence. https://t.co/xBjlQserwE
— shauna (@goldengateblond) July 5, 2017
NPR called treasonous for tweeting the Declaration of Independence is just more proof Trump voters hate America and all that it stands for.
— Radio Justice 📻🎙 (@justiceputnam) July 5, 2017
Note of advice: When the Declaration of Independence reads as a screed against the person you’ve elected, you’ve supported the wrong person.
— R. Me (@e11evenoclock) July 5, 2017
So many people believed NPR’s tweet on the content of Declaration of Independence as an attack on your president. The irony!
— NEOTERIC (@abioladavids) July 5, 2017
All the conservatives losing their shit over NPR’s declaration tweets pretty much just validates every stereotype liberals have of them.
— Buffy the Psych Prof (@DrPsyBuffy) July 5, 2017
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Image: John Trumbull‘s painting, Declaration of Independence, via Wikimedia
Some tweets hat tip: HuffPost and Gizmodo

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