On 6 January 2021, a group of Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol Building. They intended to overturn the 2020 US presidential election.
It was pandemonium, a scene out of a Banana Republic. But while most of the world condemns the rioters’ actions, many in Thailand rejoice at it.
They point out that this is proof as to why democracy doesn’t work. They cite karma and say the US deserves it for criticizing Thailand’s politics. They jeer at half-Thai US Senator Tammy Duckworth for using the word “coup” to describe the riot.
In this Thisrupt Talk episode, we examine the context and cultural mentality behind Thai traditionalists’ celebration of the storming of the Capitol Building.