VDARE Figure James Kirkpatrick Calls for Charges Against Political Opponents, Escalating “Traitor” Rhetoric
James Kirkpatrick, a prominent voice associated with the controversial VDARE Foundation, has issued a sharp statement on social media calling for unidentified individuals to be legally charged, branding them “traitors.” In a recent post, Kirkpatrick stated, “Should be charged, we can’t live with these traitors,” signaling a continued escalation in the rhetoric used by hardline immigration restrictionists.
The statement reflects a pattern of discourse often employed by VDARE, an organization founded by Peter Brimelow. The group has long focused on opposing non-white immigration to the United States and has been classified by civil rights monitors, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, as a white nationalist hate group. Kirkpatrick’s specific choice of words suggests a rejection of political pluralism, implying that coexistence with those holding opposing views is no longer viable.
Legal and Political Context
While the post calls for “charges,” legal analysts note that the Constitutional definition of treason in the United States is exceptionally narrow. Article III, Section 3 of the Constitution limits treason to “levying War against [the United States], or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.” Historically, the courts have refused to apply treason charges to domestic political disputes or policy failures.
Critics of Kirkpatrick’s rhetoric argue that labeling political opponents as “traitors” who “should be charged” serves to normalize the criminalization of dissent. By framing policy disagreements—likely regarding border control or demographic changes—as existential threats, such language attempts to move the debate from the democratic sphere into the realm of national security and criminal prosecution.
Background on VDARE
This aggressive posturing comes at a time when VDARE faces significant external pressure. The organization has recently been subject to intense scrutiny regarding its corporate structure and real estate holdings, including the purchase of the Berkeley Springs Castle in West Virginia. Following investigations by the New York Attorney General’s office into potential misuse of charitable funds, the organization has faced operational difficulties and deplatforming from various financial and web services.
Despite these institutional challenges, the rhetoric from key figures like Kirkpatrick remains defiant. The insistence that opponents are not merely wrong, but criminal “traitors,” highlights the widening chasm in American political discourse, raising concerns among extremism researchers about the potential for such language to inspire real-world confrontation.
