The Retribution Decade: Trump's Rhetoric of Force
A sourced chronology of how political violence moved from rhetorical flourish to institutional policy in the United States. The archive tracks public statements, social media posts, and official actions across three phases: rally rhetoric and threats against critics and journalists; mobilization of supporters and proposals for domestic military force; and the codification of these ideas into pardons, deployments, and execution protocols.
43
Entries
16
Key moments
0
Followers
May 16
Updated
Sat, Jan 23
Key Moment"I Could Shoot Somebody and I Wouldn't Lose Any Voters"
Trump tests the limits of supporter loyalty at an Iowa campaign stop
During a campaign rally at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, Donald Trump commented on the loyalty of his supporters. Discussing his poll numbers, he stated: "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn't lose any voters, OK? It's like incredible." The remark was made nine days before the Iowa caucuses. In October 2019, during oral arguments in Trump v. Vance before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, Trump's attorney William Consovoy was asked by Judge Denny Chin whether local authorities could investigate a sitting president for a hypothetical Fifth Avenue shooting. Consovoy argued that they could not while the president was in office.
Tue, Aug 9
The "Second Amendment People" Comment
Trump's remarks on judicial appointments draw scrutiny over implied meaning
Speaking in Wilmington, North Carolina, Donald Trump said that if Hillary Clinton were to win the election and appoint judges, gun owners' rights would be diminished. He added, "If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don't know." Critics interpreted the remark as suggesting violence against Clinton. The Secret Service stated it had spoken with the Trump campaign about the comment. The campaign said Trump was referring to the political power of gun rights advocates as a voting bloc.
Fri, Feb 17
Key Moment"Enemy of the American People"
Trump labels major news outlets as adversaries of the public
President Trump posted on Twitter: "The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!" An earlier version of the post, listing only the New York Times, NBC, and CNN, was deleted and reposted with additional outlets added. One week later, on February 24, Trump repeated the phrase from the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference: "A few days ago, I called the fake news the enemy of the people, and they are. They are the enemy of the people because they have no sources." The New York Times noted the term's historical use in Soviet and Nazi propaganda. The Committee to Protect Journalists later tracked dozens of subsequent uses of the phrase in Trump's tweets through January 2019.
Wed, Jun 14
Shooting at Congressional Baseball Practice
Trump addresses the nation after a gunman targets Republican lawmakers in Alexandria
A gunman opened fire at a Republican congressional baseball practice at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Alexandria, Virginia. The shooter, 66-year-old James Hodgkinson of Belleville, Illinois, fired more than 70 rounds, wounding House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), congressional staffer Zack Barth, lobbyist Matt Mika, and Capitol Police officer Crystal Griner. Hodgkinson was killed in a shootout with Capitol and Alexandria police. Hodgkinson had volunteered for the Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign and had posted anti-Trump and anti-Republican content on social media. Investigators determined that he had cased the field for approximately two months and asked lawmakers whether Republicans or Democrats were practicing before opening fire. Sanders condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms." President Trump addressed the nation from the White House: "Many lives would have been lost if not for the heroic actions of the two Capitol Police officers, who took down the gunman despite sustaining gunshot wounds during a very, very brutal assault... We may have our differences, but we do well, in times like these, to remember that everyone who serves in our nation's capital is here because, above all, they love our country." Trump later visited Scalise in the hospital. Scalise spent six weeks in the hospital and underwent multiple surgeries.
Tue, Aug 15
Key MomentCharlottesville "Very Fine People" Press Conference
President Trump addresses violence at the "Unite the Right" rally
Following a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where counter-protester Heather Heyer was killed in a car attack by James Alex Fields Jr., President Trump addressed the violence from Trump Tower. He condemned the driver as a "murderer" and denounced neo-Nazis and white nationalists, but also stated there were "very fine people on both sides" and that there was "blame on both sides." Trump said he was referring to those there to protest the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue, not the neo-Nazis or white nationalists.
Mon, Oct 22
Response to the Cesar Sayoc Pipe Bomb Plot
A supporter's mail bomb campaign is met with claims of a media "hoax"
Between October 22 and 26, 2018, federal authorities intercepted 16 improvised explosive devices mailed to prominent critics of the President, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and CNN. The suspect, Cesar Sayoc, was arrested in Florida; his van was covered in pro-Trump and anti-media decals. Sayoc was sentenced to 20 years in prison. President Trump's response moved through several phases: Asked whether he bore any responsibility for the actions of a supporter, Trump replied, "There is no blame. There's no anything." At a rally in North Carolina that evening, he accused the media of using the incident to "score political points" as the crowd chanted "CNN sucks."
Sat, Aug 3
Key MomentEl Paso Walmart Shooting
A mass shooter's manifesto cites a "Hispanic invasion" of Texas
A 21-year-old gunman, Patrick Crusius, opened fire at a Walmart in the Cielo Vista neighborhood of El Paso, Texas, killing 23 people and wounding 22 others. Crusius drove approximately 650 miles from his home in Allen, Texas, to attack the store, which served a predominantly Hispanic clientele. Minutes before the attack, he posted a four-page document on the imageboard 8chan titled "The Inconvenient Truth," which stated: "This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas. They are the instigators, not me. I am simply defending my country from cultural and ethnic replacement brought on by an invasion." The document cited the Christchurch mosque shootings and the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory as inspirations. Crusius surrendered to police and told detectives he had targeted "Mexicans." In July 2023, Crusius pleaded guilty to 90 federal hate crime and weapons charges and was sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences. In April 2025, he pleaded guilty to state capital murder charges and received an additional 23 life sentences. During Crusius's state sentencing, defense attorney Joe Spencer told the court: "Patrick... explicitly stated the attack was a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas, echoing the language used by political figures... Patrick believed he was acting at the direction of the president at the time." A New York Times analysis identified more than 2,000 Trump campaign Facebook ads using the word "invasion" between January 2019 and August 2019. Following the shooting, Trump said in a statement: "In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy."
Thu, May 28
Retweet of Couy Griffin's "Dead Democrat" Video
Trump amplifies eliminationist rhetoric during a peak of national unrest
In the early morning hours, President Trump retweeted a video from the account "Cowboys for Trump," featuring its founder, Couy Griffin. In the footage, recorded at a rally in New Mexico, Griffin told a crowd, "I've come to a place where I've come to the conclusion that the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat." After the cheering subsided, Griffin added, "I say that politically speaking." The President shared the clip with the caption: "Thank you Cowboys. See you in New Mexico!" The retweet occurred during national tension following the death of George Floyd. In subsequent interviews, Griffin said some Democrats were "guilty of treason" and that the "penalty for treason is death." Griffin was later arrested for his role in the January 6 Capitol attack and in September 2022 became the first elected official removed from office under the 14th Amendment's "insurrectionist clause."
Tue, Sep 29
Key Moment"Stand Back and Stand By"
A debate-stage directive to the Proud Boys draws national attention
During the first presidential debate in Cleveland, moderator Chris Wallace asked President Trump whether he would condemn white supremacists and militia groups and tell them to "stand down." When Joe Biden named the "Proud Boys," Trump responded: "Proud Boys, stand back and stand by. But I'll tell you what, somebody's got to do something about Antifa and the left." Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio stated on social media he was "extremely proud" of the moment. Members of the group created merchandise and digital logos featuring the quote in the hours that followed. The following day, Trump said he did not know who the Proud Boys were and told them to "stand down." In the 2023 seditious conspiracy trial of Proud Boys leaders related to January 6, federal prosecutors cited the directive as part of their case; Tarrio and three other leaders were convicted of seditious conspiracy.
Fri, Oct 30
"These Patriots Did Nothing Wrong"
A Biden campaign bus is surrounded by a convoy of trucks in Texas
A convoy of vehicles flying "Trump 2020" flags surrounded a Biden-Harris campaign bus on I-35 between San Antonio and Austin. The encounter resulted in a collision between a Trump supporter's truck and a Biden staffer's car. The FBI launched an investigation. Trump tweeted a video of the convoy, writing, "In my opinion, these patriots did nothing wrong." In September 2024, a federal jury found two organizers of the convoy liable under the Texas "Ku Klux Klan Act."
Thu, Nov 5
Steve Bannon's "Heads on Pikes" Remarks
Bannon calls for the beheading of Dr. Fauci and FBI Director Christopher Wray
During a livestream of his podcast War Room: Pandemic , former White House strategist Steve Bannon said a second Trump term should begin with the execution of Dr. Anthony Fauci and FBI Director Christopher Wray. Bannon stated, "I'd actually like to go back to the old times of Tudor England. I'd put the heads on pikes, right. I'd put them at the two corners of the White House as a warning to federal bureaucrats: 'You either get with the program or you are gone.'" His co-host, Jack Maxey, compared the officials to "Tories" who were hanged during the American Revolution. Twitter permanently suspended Bannon's account for "glorifying violence," and YouTube removed the video for violating its harassment policy. Bannon's lead defense attorney, William Burck, withdrew from representing him in a separate federal fraud case the following day.
Wed, Jan 6
Key MomentThe Ellipse Assembly: "Trial by Combat" and "Kicking Ass"
Trump's surrogates address the crowd before the march to the Capitol
Before President Trump took the stage at the "Save America" rally, his allies addressed the crowd. Rudy Giuliani, the President's personal attorney, repeated claims of rigged voting machines and said, "Let's have trial by combat," regarding the challenge to the election results. Representative Mo Brooks (R-AL) asked the audience if they were willing to "sacrifice their blood, their sweat, and their tears" for their country, stating, "Today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass." Giuliani later said the "combat" remark referenced Game of Thrones . In late 2025, President Trump pardoned Giuliani for actions related to the 2020 election.
Wed, Jan 6
Key Moment"He Deserves It": The Internal Response to the Breach
White House aides testify to the President's reaction as the Capitol was overrun
As the Capitol was breached and a mob chanted "Hang Mike Pence," President Trump remained in the White House dining room watching the events on television. According to 2022 testimony before the House January 6 Committee from aide Cassidy Hutchinson, when Chief of Staff Mark Meadows informed the President about the chants, Trump responded that Pence "deserves it" and that the rioters "weren't doing anything wrong." After 187 minutes of public silence, the President released a video at 4:17 PM. In the video, he repeated the claim that the election was "stolen" but told the rioters, "Go home, we love you, you're very special."
Wed, Jan 6
Key Moment"Fight Like Hell": Trump's Ellipse Speech
Trump tells supporters they will "never take back our country with weakness" before they march to the Capitol
Speaking to supporters at the Ellipse near the White House at the "Save America" rally, President Trump delivered an approximately 70-minute speech disputing the results of the 2020 election. He used variations of the word "fight" approximately 20 times. Near the end of the speech, Trump said: "Because you'll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong... And we fight. We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore." Earlier in the speech, Trump told the crowd: "We're going to walk down to the Capitol, and we're going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women," and: "I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard." The January 6 Select Committee later concluded that the words "peacefully and patriotically" were inserted by Trump's speechwriters and appeared once in the address. Within an hour of Trump finishing his speech, supporters began breaching the Capitol perimeter. The speech became central to Trump's second impeachment, where House managers argued it constituted incitement, and to the federal election interference case brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith, which was dismissed in November 2024 following Trump's election victory.
Tue, Jul 11
Hunter Biden Plea Deal and "Death Sentence" Rhetoric
Trump suggests a "death sentence" for Hunter Biden's tax charges
Following a proposed plea agreement for Hunter Biden regarding tax and gun charges, Trump criticized the federal prosecutor he had appointed, U.S. Attorney David Weiss. On Truth Social, Trump called Weiss a "coward" who gave Hunter Biden a "traffic ticket instead of a death sentence."
Fri, Sep 22
Rhetoric Targets Gen. Mark Milley
Trump and Rep. Paul Gosar suggest capital punishment for outgoing General
Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that General Mark Milley's late-term communications with China were an "act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!" Shortly after, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) wrote in his newsletter that "in a better society, quislings like... General Milley would be hung."
Tue, Nov 7
Rep. Michelle Salzman's Gaza Ceasefire Remark
A Florida state representative responds "all of them" to a question on Palestinian deaths
During a session in the Florida House of Representatives, Democratic State Rep. Angie Nixon introduced a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Nixon noted that the death toll in Gaza had reached 10,000, asking her colleagues, "We are at 10,000 dead Palestinians. How many will be enough?" Republican Representative Michelle Salzman shouted from her seat, "All of them."
Sat, Nov 11
"Vermin" and the "Threat Within"
Trump uses eliminationist language to describe domestic political opponents
During a Veterans Day speech in New Hampshire, Trump pledged to "root out the Communists, Marxists, fascists, and the radical-left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country." He said the "threat from within" was more "sinister" and "grave" than threats from foreign adversaries like Russia or China. Historians of authoritarianism, including Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Timothy Snyder, noted publicly that "vermin" had been used as dehumanizing language by 20th-century fascist regimes. Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung responded that those drawing the comparison had their "sad, miserable existence" "crushed" by the President's victory.
Sat, Dec 16
Key Moment"Poisoning the Blood of Our Country"
Trump's rhetoric on migration draws comparisons to Mein Kampf
At a rally at the Whittemore Center Arena on the University of New Hampshire campus in Durham, New Hampshire, Donald Trump said of migrants: "They're poisoning the blood of our country. That's what they've done. They poison mental institutions and prisons all over the world, not just in South America, not just the three or four countries that we think about, but all over the world. They're coming into our country from Africa, from Asia, all over the world." The phrasing drew comparisons to passages in Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf , in which Hitler wrote of preserving the "purity" of "blood." Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said the language "echoes nativist talking points and has the potential to cause real danger and violence." The Biden campaign described the language as parroting Hitler. Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said the comparison was made by "those who suffer from Trump derangement syndrome." Trump had used a similar formulation at a prior rally in October 2023 and repeated it at subsequent events.
Fri, Mar 29
Video Shared of Hog-Tied Joe Biden
Trump posts footage of a truck decal depicting the sitting President
Donald Trump shared a 20-second video on Truth Social showing a pickup truck with "Trump 2024" flags and a decal on its tailgate depicting President Joe Biden bound and lying on his side. The Biden campaign criticized the post as "inciting political violence." Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said the image was on a truck traveling down the highway and noted that Democrats had used violent rhetoric as well.
Sat, Jul 13
Key MomentAssassination Attempt at Butler Rally
A gunman opens fire at a Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania, wounding Trump and killing a rallygoer
During a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds in Butler, Pennsylvania, a 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle from the roof of an American Glass Research building approximately 130 yards from the stage. Crooks fired eight rounds. A bullet struck Trump's upper right ear. One rallygoer, 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief from Sarver, Pennsylvania, was killed while shielding his family. Two other attendees, David Dutch and James Copenhaver, were critically wounded. Crooks was killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper approximately 16 seconds after he began firing. As Secret Service agents escorted him from the stage, Trump raised his fist toward the crowd and shouted "Fight, fight, fight." A photograph by Associated Press photographer Evan Vucci, taken moments after the shooting, showed Trump with blood on his face against the backdrop of an American flag. The image became widely circulated. A bipartisan House Task Force investigation found significant security failures by the U.S. Secret Service, including breakdowns in communication with local law enforcement and the failure to secure the rooftop. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned on July 23, 2024. The FBI later concluded that Crooks acted alone; investigators were unable to identify a motive.
Sun, Sep 15
Second Assassination Attempt in West Palm Beach
A gunman is intercepted at Trump's Florida golf course
Secret Service agents discovered Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old man with a rifle, in shrubbery near the sixth hole of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, while Trump was playing golf one hole away. A Secret Service agent fired at Routh; Routh fled the scene without firing his weapon and was apprehended on Interstate 95 in neighboring Martin County. No shots were fired at Trump. Routh was charged with attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and additional federal charges. He was convicted at trial in September 2025 and later sentenced to life in prison.
Sun, Sep 29
The "One Rough Hour" Proposal
Trump suggests a single hour of unrestrained policing would end retail crime
At a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, Trump discussed retail theft and crime. He said: "If you had one really violent day... one rough hour — and I mean real rough — the word will get out, and it will end immediately." The Trump campaign later said he had been joking but maintained that police should be "allowed to do their jobs" without fear of prosecution.
Sun, Oct 13
Key MomentMilitary Force Against the "Enemy from Within"
Trump proposes using the National Guard and military against domestic rivals
In a Fox News interview, Trump said political rivals — specifically naming Adam Schiff and Nancy Pelosi — were "more dangerous than China or Russia." He said any unrest on Election Day should be "easily handled by, if necessary, by the National Guard — or, if really necessary, by the military."
Sun, Nov 3
"I Don't Mind That So Much"
Trump remarks on journalists being shot at a Pennsylvania rally
At a rally in Lititz, Pennsylvania, less than 48 hours before Election Day, Donald Trump commented on the bulletproof glass panels surrounding him, installed after two assassination attempts earlier in the year. Pointing to gaps in the glass where the media riser was located, Trump said: "I have this piece of glass here... but all we have really over here is the fake news. And to get me, somebody would have to shoot through the fake news. And I don't mind that so much. I don't mind that." The Trump campaign later said the President had been "brilliantly talking about the two assassination attempts" and his own safety.
Mon, Jan 20
Key MomentMass Pardons for January 6 Defendants
Trump grants clemency to nearly 1,500 defendants on his first day back in office
On his first day back in office, President Trump signed a proclamation granting clemency to defendants charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack. The proclamation granted full pardons to those convicted of non-violent offenses and commuted the sentences of leaders from the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, including Enrique Tarrio and Stewart Rhodes. The Department of Justice moved to drop pending indictments against defendants awaiting trial, including some charged with assaulting police officers. The administration referred to the defendants as "hostages."
Sat, Jun 7
Key MomentNational Guard Federalized for Los Angeles Deployment
Trump federalizes the California National Guard over the governor's objection
President Trump signed a presidential memorandum federalizing 2,000 members of the California National Guard and deploying them to Los Angeles in response to protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids that had begun the previous day. Trump invoked Title 10 of the U.S. Code, Section 12406, which permits federalization when "the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States." The memorandum was not specific to California and authorized the Secretary of Defense to coordinate with state governors. Governor Gavin Newsom said the deployment occurred without his consent and called the action a "brazen abuse of power." It was the first federalization of a state National Guard over a sitting governor's objection since 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson federalized Alabama's Guard to protect civil rights marchers in Selma. In the following days, the Trump administration doubled the deployment to 4,000 Guard members and deployed approximately 700 active-duty U.S. Marines from Camp Pendleton. California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed suit. On June 12, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer granted a temporary restraining order against the deployment; the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the order, allowing Trump to retain control. Similar federalizations were issued for Portland and Chicago in subsequent months. In December 2025, a federal judge ruled the federalization unlawful and ordered the Guard returned to California control.
Thu, Nov 20
Key Moment"Seditious Behavior, Punishable by Death"
Trump targets Democratic veterans over video advising the refusal of illegal orders
President Trump issued a series of Truth Social posts accusing six Democratic lawmakers — all military or intelligence veterans — of "seditious behavior" and "treason." The lawmakers — Senators Elissa Slotkin (MI) and Mark Kelly (AZ), and Representatives Jason Crow (CO), Chris Deluzio (PA), Maggie Goodlander (NH), and Chrissy Houlahan (PA) — had released a 90-second video urging U.S. service members to uphold their oath to the Constitution and "refuse illegal orders." Using the Navy slogan "Don't give up the ship," the veterans said the administration was pitting the military against American citizens. Trump posted: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???" An hour later, he posted: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!" White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller characterized the video as "plainly, directly... insurrection." The U.S. Capitol Police initiated a security review. Democratic leadership called on the President to recant. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, service members are required to disobey unlawful orders.
Sat, Mar 21
"I'm Glad He's Dead"
Trump's reaction to the death of Robert Mueller draws backlash
Following the death of former Special Counsel Robert Mueller, President Trump posted on Truth Social: "Good, I'm glad he's dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!" Fox News analyst Brit Hume wrote on social media that the post was "stuff that makes people... hate him." Media monitoring service Snapstream reported that while the comment appeared on Fox News' website and X account, it was not mentioned on the network's televised broadcasts for nearly 20 hours following the post.
Wed, Mar 25
Hegseth's "Every Round to Find Its Mark" Prayer
Defense Secretary Hegseth prays for "overwhelming violence" at a Pentagon worship service during the Iran war
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth led a monthly Christian prayer and worship service at a Pentagon auditorium, the first such service held since the start of the U.S.–Israeli war with Iran. Standing at a lectern bearing the Defense Department seal, Hegseth recited a prayer that he said had originally been delivered by a military chaplain to U.S. troops who captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026. The prayer asked God to bless American soldiers with "overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy" and that "every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation." Hegseth also prayed for God to "snap the rod of the oppressor" and "break the teeth of the ungodly." Religious scholars noted the prayer drew without attribution from Psalm 144 and several other biblical passages. Hegseth had instituted the monthly worship services at the Pentagon in May 2025. The March 25, 2026 service drew specific criticism for its framing of the Iran war in religious terms. Pope Leo XIV had previously stated that God rejects the prayers of leaders who wage wars, in remarks widely interpreted as a rebuke of Hegseth's rhetoric.
Tue, Apr 7
Key Moment"A Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight"
The Hormuz blockade reaches a breaking point with a midnight ultimatum
During a naval standoff in the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump issued an ultimatum to the Iranian government via Truth Social. As a 20:00 EDT deadline approached for Iran to reopen the shipping lane, Trump posted: "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will." The threat followed a week-long U.S. naval blockade aimed at forcing "Complete and Total Regime Change." UN officials and military law scholars said that targeting civilian infrastructure or populations would constitute war crimes. The Vatican described the rhetoric as "truly unacceptable." Iranian officials called the post "incitement to genocide" and said they would take "proportional reciprocal measures." Israeli and U.S. airstrikes had already disabled several Iranian bridges and railway hubs. A full-scale strike on civilian centers did not occur after Pakistan's Prime Minister brokered a two-week extension for indirect diplomacy. Oil prices rose past $110 a barrel.
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