‘Storm’ slogan clouds election
Texas Republicans deny ties to QAnon
AUSTIN — Texas Republicans defended their new slogan on Friday, dismissing claims that it has ties to an internet-driven conspiracy theory whose adherents President Donald Trump has praised in recent days.
The slogan, “We are the storm,” uses nearly identical language to a popular rallying cry among followers of the debunked theory, known as QAnon. On Thursday, the New York Times cited the party’s new motto as an example of how QAnon has permeated official Republican circles.
“The slogan can be found all over social media posts by QAnon followers, and now, too, in emails from the Texas Republican Party and on the T-shirts, hats and sweatshirts that it sells,” the Times wrote. “It has even worked its way into the party’s text message system — a recent email from the party urged readers to “Text STORM2020” for updates.”
Allen West, the Texas GOP’s newly elected chairman, has said previously that the slogan has no connection to the theory, and instead comes from a quote he often recites at speaking events: “The devil whispers into the warrior’s ear, ‘You cannot withstand the coming storm.’ The warrior whispers back, ‘I am the storm.’”
“The ‘we are the storm’ poem is one of Chairman West’s favorite quotes to use in speeches,” the Republican Party of Texas said in a statement. “He and the entire Texas GOP will not be bullied by partisan leftists in the me
dia into ceding powerful phrases with biblical roots — taken from Psalm 29 — to Internet conspiracy groups.”
A spokesman for the party said West was unavailable for comment, and declined to comment on whether it was aware of the overlap or concerned that the slogan could raise the stature of a conspiracy group that the FBI has labeled a potential domestic terrorist group. He also did not say whether the party planned to replace the slogan going forward.
The party tweeted Thursday that its merchandise featuring the slogan was “flying off the shelves.”
Austin-based KXAN news reported Friday that one of its reporters asked West about the slogan earlier this month, to which he replied, “I don’t know about anybody else and I’m not into internet conspiracy theories.”
The Texas Democratic Party issued a statement condemning the slogan: “The Republican Party is being led by an internet cult that believes in dangerous, extreme far-right conspiracy theories,” spokesman Abhi Rahman said. “West can try to deny its connection, but it’s there in plain sight for everybody to see.”
Among QAnon believers, “the storm” signals a coming clash between President Donald Trump and a vast group of deep-state, sextrafficking Democrats. The theory gained renewed attention after a Republican candidate and outward QAnon adherent recently won her congressional primary runoff in Georgia.
Asked about the theory this week, Trump offered empathy for its adherents and declined to question its validity. “If I can help save the world from problems, I am willing to do it,” he told reporters. “I’m willing to put myself out there.”
Social media platforms including Twitter and Facebook have scrambled in recent weeks to tamp down a growing number of QAnon-related accounts and posts. Several prominent Republicans have come out against the theory.