The Jade Helm presidency has become a reality, but it's not the dystopian nightmare that was once imagined by conspiracy theorists. Instead, it represents a disturbing trend towards authoritarianism and state terror in America.
In July 2015, InfoWars' Alex Jones predicted that President Barack Obama would deploy a standing army to suppress dissenting voices, sparking widespread panic across the internet. The Pentagon's Jade Helm 15 training exercise was misinterpreted as a sinister plot to take over the country by the far right, with some politicians and pundits endorsing Jones' claims.
However, nothing happened, and the fear-mongering subsided as public attention shifted to other issues. But today, it's Trump's Department of Homeland Security that has made the Jade Helm nightmare a grim reality.
The DHS, under Trump, has become a paramilitary force, terrorizing political opponents and demographic undesirables with impunity. Federal agents ride in armored vehicles through American cities, carrying masked, heavily armed commandos who are authorized to use lethal force against anyone they deem a threat.
Immigration authorities have brought the id of Jade Helm to life, using vast intelligence and surveillance apparatuses to track down and intimidate perceived enemies of the state. The Department has reactivated its contract with spyware-maker Paragon, making software that can remotely break into smartphones.
Artificial intelligence tools, including those provided by Palantir, are being used to build a sophisticated database of potential targets for deportation and detention. This is not just about fighting terrorism but also about suppressing dissenting voices and punishing those who dare to challenge the president's policies.
The notion of ideological foes not as electoral enemies but legitimate targets of violence has become the new normal in America. Trump refers to an "enemy within" the United States, suggesting that his administration will use force and surveillance to crush opposition.
The Intercept has documented numerous cases of DHS agents using lethal force against civilians, including four people who were killed by ICE officers last year alone. Minneapolis residents describe the experience of encountering these agents as something akin to a military occupation.
As we enter 2026, it's clear that Trump's DHS represents a full-blown authoritarian takeover of the US government. The president has ignored court orders and is putting MAGA loyalists in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies. News outlets that challenge his administration are being banned or put under investigation.
The Intercept needs your help to continue fighting against this threat to democracy. Will you join us?
In July 2015, InfoWars' Alex Jones predicted that President Barack Obama would deploy a standing army to suppress dissenting voices, sparking widespread panic across the internet. The Pentagon's Jade Helm 15 training exercise was misinterpreted as a sinister plot to take over the country by the far right, with some politicians and pundits endorsing Jones' claims.
However, nothing happened, and the fear-mongering subsided as public attention shifted to other issues. But today, it's Trump's Department of Homeland Security that has made the Jade Helm nightmare a grim reality.
The DHS, under Trump, has become a paramilitary force, terrorizing political opponents and demographic undesirables with impunity. Federal agents ride in armored vehicles through American cities, carrying masked, heavily armed commandos who are authorized to use lethal force against anyone they deem a threat.
Immigration authorities have brought the id of Jade Helm to life, using vast intelligence and surveillance apparatuses to track down and intimidate perceived enemies of the state. The Department has reactivated its contract with spyware-maker Paragon, making software that can remotely break into smartphones.
Artificial intelligence tools, including those provided by Palantir, are being used to build a sophisticated database of potential targets for deportation and detention. This is not just about fighting terrorism but also about suppressing dissenting voices and punishing those who dare to challenge the president's policies.
The notion of ideological foes not as electoral enemies but legitimate targets of violence has become the new normal in America. Trump refers to an "enemy within" the United States, suggesting that his administration will use force and surveillance to crush opposition.
The Intercept has documented numerous cases of DHS agents using lethal force against civilians, including four people who were killed by ICE officers last year alone. Minneapolis residents describe the experience of encountering these agents as something akin to a military occupation.
As we enter 2026, it's clear that Trump's DHS represents a full-blown authoritarian takeover of the US government. The president has ignored court orders and is putting MAGA loyalists in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies. News outlets that challenge his administration are being banned or put under investigation.
The Intercept needs your help to continue fighting against this threat to democracy. Will you join us?