‘Freedom Kids’ Offer Up A Surreal Performance, Call On Donald Trump To ‘Crush’ Enemies At Florida Rally
The people of the United States can thank Donald Trump for bringing the “Freedom Kids” to the forefront of American popular culture for their proverbial 15 minutes of fame. The decidedly offbeat act made a splash on the internet after their appearance at a pro-Trump rally on Wednesday in Pensacola, Florida.
The trio of young girls – a contingent of a larger group of performers – wore patriotic dance costumes and sang the national anthem at the rally. But the original tune that they performed, described by Talking Points Memo as a “kid-friendly dance song,” is what really got folks talking, with its enthusiasm for the GOP frontrunner’s message and political positions. The eyebrow-raising lyrics praise Trump’s tough talk and include some of his signature phrases. Mother Jones and other news outlets posted excerpts of the lyrical content online once the video footage of the Freedom Kids began to pick up steam.
“Cowardice! Are you serious? Apologies for freedom, I can’t handle this. When freedom rings, answer the call! On your feet, stand up tall!Freedom’s on our shoulders, USA! Enemies of freedom face the music, c’mon boys, take them down. President Donald Trump knows how to make America great. Deal from strength or get crushed every time!”
Many online reviews were restrained and somewhat tongue-in-cheek, with Business Insider calling the performance “incredible,” and Salon joking that the tune is now Donald Trump’s “official jam.” Slate was more complex and a bit less nuanced, quipping that the Freedom Kids’ song will go down as America’s new national anthem, describing the spectacle as “a hymn that we will all be singing in our mandatory labor camps in a little under a year’s time.”
Denizens of the Twitterverse were not nearly as measured or good-natured in their critique of Donald Trump’s youthful cheering section, skewering the Freedom Kids routine in as many contexts as possible.
#HITLER‘S YOUTH SERENADE FüHRER @realDonaldTrump “Enemies of freedom face the music, c’mon boys, take them down” pic.twitter.com/mYyWMXoPC8
— HEADLINE ZOO (@HeadlineZoo) January 14, 2016
I can barely tell the difference between Trump’s #freedomkids and the first scene of “The Interview.” Terrifying. https://t.co/7kj1xr1Jay
— John Haltiwanger (@jchaltiwanger) January 14, 2016
I am somehow exactly equally offended by the lyrical message and the synth sequencing. well done #FreedomKids #Trump
— Bill Boulden (@Spruke) January 14, 2016
#freedomkids was the name focus grouped by trump supporters? Fascists usually have a more colourful imagination
— farooq but no (@lathamsmp) January 14, 2016
Always diligent in his use of social media, Donald Trump did not explicitly offer a shout out to the Freedom Kids but he did express gratitude to the estimated 10,000 Trump supporters who attended the Florida rally.
“@CLewandowski_: Massive crowd in Pensacola, Florida! Unbelievable! THANK YOU! #VoteTrump pic.twitter.com/9D2tsQaysd”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2016
The somewhat lighthearted appearance of the Freedom Kids is something of a departure from some of the more scandalous goings-on at Donald Trump rallies as of late. Last week, a Muslim woman was escorted out of a Trump event when she stood in silent protest during the Republican candidate’s stump speech. As previously reported by Inquisitr, Trump instructed his security staff to confiscate the coats of protesters at a campaign event in New England and last year, a man associated with the Black Lives Matter movement was forcibly expelled from a Trump rally, after being placed on the ground and subjected to kicks and blows. Commenting on the incident the following day, the candidate himself mused that the man might have “deserved to be roughed up.”
The sugary sweet, unbridled enthusiasm of Freedom Kids might be noticeably absent at the Republican debate Charleston, South Carolina on Thursday night as Donald Trump is in the midst of a mounting threat from fellow Republican Ted Cruz. The persistence of the Cruz campaign has transformed the Texas Senator into a formidable challenger to Trump’s longstanding dominance during the present primary season. Over the course of recent weeks, Trump has intensified his attacks on Cruz, asserting that his opponent might not be qualified to serve as president since he was born in Canada. It is widely anticipated that both Ted Cruz and Donald Trump will address each other directly and bluntly during the debate, which is something both men have been reluctant to do in prior face-to-face meetings.
[Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images]
