It was there, four years ago, that Joe Biden won over Donald Trump with the smallest margin. Only 11,000 votes difference. Arizona, in the southwest of the United States, on the Mexican border, is one of these famous pivotal states in the American presidential election. However, here, many people have not recognized the result of 2020. The State is one of the bases of the conspiratorial thinking of Trump supporters and all say they are ready to act, if irregularities are noted.
In Casa Grande, south of Phoenix, the state capital, Wes is in a bit of a hurry, he is in the small arms market and stops quickly before heading to the church. Wes came to exchange the magazine model of one of the assault rifles he has at home: “I’m not going to list it for you but I have enough. I have short and long ranges, I can shoot over a kilometer, he explains. If my brothers in arms call me to fulfill our duty, then I go for it. All military or ex-military personnel have sworn to defend the country from internal and external threats. I feel like something is going to happen, I feel it in my bones. I hope to show myself, I don’t want things to be shit in this country. I don’t want a bloodbath, so I hope I’m wrong“, assure Wes.
“There are groups of people who are ready to respond to anything.”
Brian, arms dealer in Casa Grande, Arizonaat franceinfo
In the store aisles, merchants say ammunition sales have soared in recent months. Brian is convinced that people are preparing. “There are groups of people who are ready to respond to anything. There are militias around us, the civil war will not take place. But certain groups will want to take matters into their own hands, we live in a crazy world right now.“
In 2020, 46 officials, elected representatives of Congress, members of the supervisory board, and a sheriff were sanctioned for denial of election. 100% of the frauds reported were dismissed in an independent investigation, but Rocky gives no credit for this. “They call us Holocaust deniers, but I worked on the audit, I saw the false ballots. They cheated and they are in the process of doing it again. voting by mail and ballots does not work, they cheat. Before, the election took place over one day, now it lasts weeks or months… They argue, they go to court. This is exactly what the left wants, chaos. We are Americans, we are soldiers of freedom. We must not be provoked, in any case we will defend the Constitution. And if that means taking up arms, so be it.”conclut Rocky.
Supporters of the former president say they will only respond to provocations, like Gavin, installed in the stands of the last rodeo of the season, at Camp Verde, a conservative stronghold north of Phoenix. “It’s a MAGA hat, Make America Great Again“, if Gavin swapped his cowboy hat for a cap it’s because the election is approaching. Gavin makes goodies, promotional items, his own bear the image of Donald Trump. “In the last four years, the only violence I experienced came from the left, he assures. Guys came to my office, disrespected me, spat on me, called me names. In short, the left is supposed to be full of good feelings, of peace but oh well.”
Gavin forgets to mention that four years ago, Republican assessors received death threats for validating the election of Joe Biden. This year there is no question for him that Kamala Harris, that the Democrats win again in Arizona. “This time, I think we played the same card as them, by voting in advance. To be sure that our ballots go to the right candidate. I don’t think she can win, it’s impossible, in at least not with us“, Gavin convinces himself.
“Too Big too rig”, “the gap will be too big for the vote to be rigged” : this slogan is heard everywhere, in the mouths of activists and Donald Trump’s team. For example, in the hangar of a munitions manufacturer where a meeting of one of Donald Trump’s supporters in Arizona, Charlie Kirk, evangelical and ultraconservative, took place this weekend. He has worked hard for four years to raise funds and correct a mistake, that of the victory of a Democrat in Arizona.
A heresy for Kirk who recalls that the Republicans are much more numerous than the Democrats in this state, insinuating as evidence that the number of registered people is enough to achieve victory. Kirk announces the 8-point Republican lead following early voting as a result, but he doesn’t say it’s about turnout. This mixture of figures and assertions gives activists the impression that victory has been achieved and that no other result could be validated in the coming days.
