President Donald Trump often employs verbal exaggeration when speaking, and some of his off-the-cuff remarks provide perfect fodder for those who accuse him of being anti-democracy.

Case in point: Trump suggested on Friday that the individuals who have been vandalizing Tesla dealerships and charging stations should be sent to the supermax prison in El Salvador that currently houses illegal immigrants suspected of being terrorists. 

"I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20 year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla," Trump wrote on TRUTH Social.

"Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions!" his post continued.

Terrorist actions = terrorist punishments?

The Tesla vandals have been accused of being domestic terrorists, and their actions--torching Tesla charging stations and trying to do the same to a few dealerships--are reminiscent of actions some terrorists take to make their points and cause chaos.

That's the connection he's making, but obviously, no one who is a citizen of this country would be sent to a terrorist prison for what they did.

Trump knows this, which is why he said "perhaps."

But his enemies will assume he is completely dead serious use it as an excuse to shout some more about how he wants to take away people's rights and is a tyrant.

Society gone soft

Our society has gone soft, which is exactly why a few people would be emboldened enough to do things like this. They know they will probably get a slap on the wrist and be on their merry way.

In this scenario, Trump comes across like that mean father who wants to harshly punish his disobedient child for getting way out of line. It usually doesn't work in families, and it wouldn't work here either.

The vandals chose Molotov cocktails to make their point, and Trump is choosing rhetoric.

His is a knee-jerk reaction, and exactly why the Constitution exists.

Both sides are digging in more and more, with no end in sight to the polarization.

The vandals don't have law on their side, however. Their arrests should tamp down the desire for more of the same, even if they just go to regular jails here in the U.S.