Virtue Signaling Alone Not Enough to Stop War Crimes

Philosopher Hannah Arendt's 'banality of evil' warning applies to complicit American citizens, writer argues.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 6:57pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of a solitary government building or political figure, with warm sunlight casting dramatic shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of unease and the weight of political decisions.As the U.S. government pursues an increasingly reckless foreign policy, the public's passive 'virtue signaling' may no longer be enough to prevent catastrophic consequences.Santa Barbara Today

The author argues that simply participating in demonstrations against the president's warmongering is not enough, and that American citizens must demand the Cabinet invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the 'demented and cruel' leader before the country becomes complicit in war crimes. The piece references the philosopher Hannah Arendt's analysis of how ordinary Germans enabled the Nazis, and warns that the same dynamic is playing out in the U.S. under the current administration.

Why it matters

The author's central argument is that American citizens can no longer hide behind the idea that they are 'good Americans' if they do not take concrete action to stop the current administration's apparent war crimes. The piece suggests the stakes are high, with the potential for devastating economic and diplomatic consequences if the U.S. continues down this path.

The details

The author cites the president's demand for a $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget and his 'unconstitutional and vicious war on Iran' as examples of apparent war crimes, including a missile strike that killed over 100 children. The piece also references the president's history of personal crimes and bankruptcies that he has avoided punishment for, and argues his 'bloated ego' and the country's military power have blinded him and his supporters to the growing global 'distaste, and even hatred, for our country'.

  • On February 28, a U.S. missile strike hit an Iranian elementary school in Minab, killing more than 100 children and 68 others, mostly teachers.
  • Bob Dylan will be playing at the Santa Barbara Bowl on June 17.

The players

Hannah Arendt

A philosopher who critically analyzed the 'good Germans' defense during the Nuremberg trials, coining the phrase 'the banality of evil' to highlight how ordinary Germans' inaction made them complicit in Nazi war crimes.

Donald Trump

The current president of the United States, who the author describes as a 'demented and cruel' leader whose 'bloated ego' and the country's military power have blinded him and his supporters to growing global distaste for the U.S.

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What they’re saying

“I have participated in all the No Kings demonstrations, and others, and declare that this kind of virtue signaling is not nearly enough.”

— The author

“Way back in 1965 he sang: 'you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.'”

— Bob Dylan, 83-year-old songsmith

What’s next

The next No Kings demonstrations must demand that the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove this demented and cruel 'leader' immediately.

The takeaway

The author argues that American citizens can no longer remain passive and claim to be 'good Americans' if they do not take concrete action to stop the current administration's apparent war crimes, which could have devastating economic and diplomatic consequences for the country.