Trump and racism
For too long Trump has fanned the flames of racial hatred in America
Racism and America have a long history. While most Americans would like to believe the recent rise in racism is associated with the conservative brand of politics and may fade away once President Donald Trump leaves office, it risks opening divides that will not heal anytime soon. Two years into the Trump presidency, it is evident that the administration’s new regimen of policies are inherently racist and nationalistic. Knowing the Trump brand of politics, the recent increase in racist rhetoric does not come as a surprise - particularly with the presidential election around the corner.
Unfortunately, Trump is using the highest office in the nation, to attack minority lawmakers and communities. And by using bigotry as a lever of power, Trump has made it an undeniable fact of 21st- century politics more than five decades after the Civil Rights era. In a less polarised situation, the president’s tweets and his speeches may have landed him in trouble - perhaps even disqualified. But then lets not forget Donald Trump launched himself into American politics based on racist attacks against the first black president and now he is increasingly comfortable in using such disruptive rhetoric to save his presidency. Seeing the trends, Trump will continue to use more flagrant racial rhetoric during his reelection campaign because it pleases his loyal supporters. Hence, racism and nationalism are likely to become more prominent between now and the 2020 presidential election. For too long Trump has fanned the flames of racial hatred in America, as a developer who was widely known for discrimination in renting apartments to people of colour, as a presidential candidate who proposed the infamous Muslim ban and now as the president who has routinely trafficked in racial stereotype. Trump was able to legitimise this dangerous trend only because he came this far unchallenged.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2019.
Unfortunately, Trump is using the highest office in the nation, to attack minority lawmakers and communities. And by using bigotry as a lever of power, Trump has made it an undeniable fact of 21st- century politics more than five decades after the Civil Rights era. In a less polarised situation, the president’s tweets and his speeches may have landed him in trouble - perhaps even disqualified. But then lets not forget Donald Trump launched himself into American politics based on racist attacks against the first black president and now he is increasingly comfortable in using such disruptive rhetoric to save his presidency. Seeing the trends, Trump will continue to use more flagrant racial rhetoric during his reelection campaign because it pleases his loyal supporters. Hence, racism and nationalism are likely to become more prominent between now and the 2020 presidential election. For too long Trump has fanned the flames of racial hatred in America, as a developer who was widely known for discrimination in renting apartments to people of colour, as a presidential candidate who proposed the infamous Muslim ban and now as the president who has routinely trafficked in racial stereotype. Trump was able to legitimise this dangerous trend only because he came this far unchallenged.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2019.