There’s a palpable sense of frustration sensed across the population as Donald Trump resumes his presidency. Some are utterly exasperated and many are boiling with anger. Amongst the many individuals who harbor these sentiments, numerous discussions have sprouted up, attempting to grapple with the reasons behind this disturbing reality.
One evident question dominating the conversations is: how did this occur? A common reflex in these exchanges often tends to point fingers at someone or some group. Plenty of blame has been directed at numerous demographics within the society such as Black men, Latino and Hispanic men, young voters, and white women — all who supposedly cast their votes in favor of Trump.
However, the blame game starts to lose its steam as the number of potentially accountable groups reduces significantly. Many of those disheartened by Trump’s resurgence find it hard to accept these scapegoats as they examine the reasons behind the failure of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. A prevalent reasoning provided includes the notion that Biden should have been the frontrunner or that the Harris campaign severely lacked in substantial policy proposals.
Additionally, there are those who criticize the Biden administration’s endorsement of Israel’s actions in Gaza as a source of disaffection among voters. Conversely, others assert that Harris’s apparent negligence of issues such as the cost of eggs cost her the ballot. Such assessment even echoes within the left factions of the Democratic party.
Despite the credibility held by all these possibilities, I am compelled to believe that these arguments dismiss the intrinsic misogynistic and racist sentiments harnessed by Trump’s campaign once Harris was declared the Democratic candidate. Such was the potency of this message that it managed to persuade the majority of white voters (yes, the majority) to vote for Trump.
The deep-seated racism within the nation, combined with persistent global misogyny, swayed the majority of the white populace to cast their votes in favor of the most racist and misogynistic candidate available. On top of that, the fact that millions who had previously voted in 2020 to evict Trump simply chose to not vote, inevitably paved the path for Trump’s comeback.
Even if you challenge the views expressed above, your opposition to Trump might still remain unswayed. That’s fine, because the focus of this discussion is not solely about Trump’s return to power but also how his opponents can effectively resist him and his supporters. It is crucial to note that the powers that bolster Trump through financial means, egotistical nurturing, and administrative management must be resisted and curtailed, if not extinguished entirely.
Trump serves as the emblematic figurehead for a sinister union of white supremacy, Christian nationalism, libertarian capitalism, imperialist warfare, and vehement misogyny. It’s not a question of whether he subscribes to all these ideologies fully but rather whether he willingly accepts their financial backing and follows their demands since in Trump’s universe, politics and power are mere transactions.
The entities shadowing him or his so-called ‘followers’ are a different breed. Most of them, if not all, are staunch ideologues. Stephen Miller, Trump’s advisor, infamous for his detestable hatred towards immigrants, is one such example. It was indeed he who implemented the Muslim ban and similar policies during Trump’s inaugural tenure.
Alongside ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan and the head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Kristi Noem, it is safe to anticipate that Trump’s immigration policy will lean heavily on prejudice, bordering on illegality, and certainly reeking of immorality. The unsettling apprehension in immigrant communities and among those organizations, churches, and individuals who serve these communities is understandably escalating.
The individuals that Trump intends to deploy in governmental departments handling military, diplomacy, and intelligence affairs continue to mirror the prevailing trend of ideology-based appointments. The potential Secretaries of State and Defense are infamous for their rigid conviction in US’s right to intervene globally whenever it deems necessary.
A striking divergence from previous administrations is their apparent readiness to wield the powers under their discretion to enforce the supremacist ideals they obscurely uphold. As for the agencies responsible for regulating corporate America, minimal regulation seems to be the order of the day. Every nominee is an unyielding believer in unregulated neoliberal capitalism, placing profits above everything else, even truthfulness.
The question now is, facing a daunting future, how should we tackle the approaching wave of fascism? If the authorities perceive the law as merely an instrument to oppress their antagonists and acquiesce to the demands of their financiers, what recourse do we, the opposition, have?
The answer begins with a handful of straightforward and apparent propositions: Stay calm, remain engaged, do not dread internal conflicts among the opposition, and look for a charismatic leader who can counteract Trump’s appeal. Then, the advice becomes slightly defeatist—cease protests and identity politics. Rather, grassroots organization should incorporate an economic message and underscore the leadership potential of Democratic politicians. However, is merely relying on Democrats sufficient to combat Trumpism, the American reincarnation of fascism draped in US flag, crusaded by the capitalists, and invoked by right-wing evangelical Christian church? Only time will tell.
The post Harris’s Missteps Smoothen Trump’s Road Back to Presidency appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
