{"id":1040,"date":"2026-06-04T18:07:47","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T18:07:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextaddressamerica.com\/?p=1040"},"modified":"2026-06-04T18:07:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T18:07:47","slug":"conservative-loses-it-after-trump-endorses-criminal-symbol-used-by-outlaw-cops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextaddressamerica.com\/?p=1040","title":{"rendered":"Conservative loses it after Trump endorses ‘criminal symbol’ used by\u00a0‘outlaw’ cops"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump posted an image of two patches supposedly worn by police officers in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, which bore the skull symbol used by Marvel Comics\u2019 the Punisher, with each skull sporting Trump\u2019s distinctive blonde hair style. This image caused one writer for the famously conservative National Review to tear apart the president\u2019s lack of understanding as to \u201cwhat law enforcement is supposed to stand for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more \u2018Not even a chance\u2019 Trump\u2019s 2 major priorities will get my vote: scorned GOP lawmaker<\/a><\/p>\n

As Jim Geraghty<\/u> explained, \u201cPolice forces using the symbol of the Punisher have been a recurring controversy, for reasons that are self-evident to anyone familiar with the comics or the various film and television versions. The character, Frank Castle, is clearly and explicitly an antihero, a vigilante who operates outside of the law and quite frequently just straight-up murders his foes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Geraghty argues that it\u2019s one thing for the general public to enjoy such vigilante stories, \u201cbut it\u2019s another thing to see those who take an oath to uphold the law enthusiastically adopt the image of a character who rejects the criminal justice system and its laws protecting the rights of the accused.\u201d<\/p>\n

And he\u2019s far from the only one to have such an opinion. As Geraghty notes, even the Punisher creator Gerry Conway has asserted that the police’s embrace of his symbol \u201cis an indication that they don\u2019t understand what the character represents, or what law enforcement\u2019s role in society is, either.\u201d <\/p>\n

Here he quotes Conway at length, who once asserted, \u201cThe vigilante anti-hero is fundamentally a critique of the justice system, an example of social failure, so when cops put Punisher skulls on their cars or members of the military wear Punisher skull patches, they\u2019re basically sides with an enemy of the system. They are embracing an outlaw mentality. Whether you think the Punisher is justified or not, whether you admire his code of ethics, he is an outlaw. He is a criminal. Police should not be embracing a criminal as their symbol.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more CBS News eyes podcasting legend for Anderson Cooper\u2019s \u201960 Minutes\u2019 replacement<\/a><\/p>\n

As Geraghty notes, the comic series even once had a storyline when the Punisher himself explicitly tells the police they should not be using his symbols or methods, saying, \u201cYou guys need a role model? His name is Captain America, and he\u2019d be happy to have you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump has a well-documented history of advocating for police violence. During his first term, he told an audience of police<\/u>, \u201cPlease don’t be too nice\u201d when making arrests. Another notable example came during his 2024 campaign, when he called for<\/u> \u201cone real rough, nasty\u201d and \u201cviolent day\u201d of police brutality that he claimed would eradicate crime \u201cimmediately.\u201d <\/p>\n

For Geraghty, the promotion of the Punisher symbol is yet another example of Trump\u2019s impulse toward lawless violence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI realize \u2018president shares crazy thing on Truth Social\u2019 isn\u2019t really big news anymore,\u201d Geraghty concludes, \u201cbut it does seem like one more illustration that the man atop the executive branch of the U.S. government doesn\u2019t understand what law enforcement is supposed to stand for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Trump officials \u2018in a bind\u2019 as strategist maps out how to nail them under oath<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump posted an image of two patches supposedly worn by police officers in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, which bore the skull symbol used by Marvel Comics\u2019 the Punisher, with each skull sporting Trump\u2019s distinctive blonde hair style. 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