Trump’s Lies About Haitians Tap Into Old, White Fears

Smears against immigrants are new version of old story

Image created by Grok.

It’s funny how Republicans get defensive when you accuse them of racism. It’s even worse during the Trump era because white supremacy is a core part of the MAGA ideology. Banning Muslims, birtherism, cracking down on immigration and “taking back our country” were all key MAGA messages that warmed the hearts of white supremacists.

But now it’s getting increasingly difficult for Republicans to fight off that accusation. Over the last five decades, the GOP has been the party that appealed to white people uncomfortable with the browning of America. President Richard Nixon realized that and came up with the Southern Strategy, which was an attempt to draw whites away from the Democratic Party and its embrace of the civil rights movement.

However, under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush senior and junior, the GOP’s message of white supremacy was more subtle. This was the era of coded messages such as “states’ rights” and “welfare queens.” It was obvious what those messages meant, but they were covert. Now the message is being shouted from the rooftops.