Trump’s Reliance on Racial and Ethnic Antagonism

Donald Trump’s political identity seems inextricably linked to his reliance on racial and ethnic antagonism. Without this divisive strategy, he would likely remain a marginal figure, confined to the political sidelines. His relentless demonization of Black individuals and immigrants has desensitized many to the reality that he is perhaps the first, and certainly the most overt, modern president and party nominee to explicitly cultivate, and even amplify, fear and animosity towards people of color.

While Trump has managed to attract a small but potentially significant segment of Black and Hispanic men, the core of his appeal has been rooted in racial bigotry. This tactic has been evident since his initial campaign to seize control of the Republican Party in 2015 and 2016. As the 2024 election approaches, he appears increasingly reliant on stoking racial hatred, demonstrating a concerning intensification of his divisive rhetoric.

The book “Identity Crisis: The 2016 Presidential Campaign and the Battle for the Meaning of America”, authored by political scientists John Sides, Michael Tesler, and Lynn Vavreck, provides a thorough examination of the effectiveness of Trump’s strategy. The authors note, “Trump was distinctive in how he tapped into white grievance.” They further argue that “Trump’s primary campaign became a vehicle for a different kind of identity politics”—one that skillfully leveraged the sentiments of many white Americans who felt marginalized in an increasingly diverse society.

Through this lens of racial resentment, Trump decisively vanquished his primary opponents, effectively magnifying and mobilizing the deep-seated discontent and racial grievances that permeate the Republican electorate.