Opinion: Trump is likely emboldening hate groups. Time for tougher questions about this.
By Greg Sargent Greg Sargent Opinion writer covering national politics Email Bio Follow Opinion writer March 18 at 10:36 AM President Trump’s extraordinary response to the New Zealand massacre provides an occasion to intensify our scrutiny of a critical question: Are Trump’s words emboldening white-nationalist and white-supremacist activity at home and abroad?
Fox’s Chris Wallace pointed out that before allegedly massacring 50 people at two mosques, the New Zealand shooter declared that he supports Trump “as a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose.” Wallace asked Mulvaney: “What does the president think of that?” What’s particularly reprehensible about this performance is what’s hiding in plain sight: There are no signs that Trump is troubled by the fact that the man who allegedly murdered dozens of people because of their Muslim faith sees him as a symbol of the devotion to protecting white identity that drove this act.
After we learned that the alleged New Zealand shooter used that word — “invaders” — Trump insisted that “illegal aliens” constitute an “invasion.” After this mosque massacre, Trump tweeted support for a Fox News host who is under fire for claiming a Muslim congresswoman’s hijab renders her devotion to the Constitution suspect.
There are many reasons for such spikes in right-wing extremist and terrorist activity . But the question is, what does Trump’s rhetoric in particular contribute to it? Indeed, what do the national security professionals inside Trump’s own administration think of that question?
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Opinion | Why 2020 must be a referendum on TrumpTrump is deeply unpopular, and Democrats need to keep it that way.
Read more »
Opinion | There's no constitutional reason to wait to impeach Donald TrumpOpinion | Michael Conway: President Trump's impeachment doesn't have to wait. The Founding Fathers never wanted it to be an insurmountable hurdle. - NBCNewsTHINK
Read more »
Opinion | A derelict commander in chief: Trump can’t keep us safeTrump does not know who the most deadly enemies are
Read more »
Opinion | Trump is losing control: 12 GOP senators defectA dozen Senate Republicans found their spines.
Read more »
Opinion | Manafort DestinyOpinion: Remember when the former Trump adviser supposedly got off easy?
Read more »
Opinion | The Trump administration keeps spinning its census scandalOpinion: The Trump administration keeps spinning its Census scandal
Read more »
Opinion | Trump is turning his back on refugees — and America’s tradition of compassionOpinion: Trump is turning his back on refugees — and America’s tradition of compassion
Read more »
Opinion | Trump Loses the SenateOpinion: President Trump is doing needless harm to his party’s chances of keeping Senate control
Read more »
Opinion | Trump rages as fresh signs of his weakness emergeTrump's latest failure to corral Republicans came after a remarkably aggressive behind-the-scenes push.
Read more »