How Donald Trump’s Harsh Rhetoric has Created a New America

By Eliana Finkel ‘24

When former President Donald Trump ran for president, his platform undermined people in this country based on religion, race and sexuality. Many thought that someone with as many authoritarian tendencies as Trump would never win. Yet he did, and the tone changed to being hopeful that he would behave differently while in the White House.
“Donald Trump hasn’t grown into the job because he can’t. And the consequences of that failure are severe,” stated Barack Obama, who, unfortunately, has been proven right. The tactics and hyperbole that Trump used to secure the position of President remained once in office. As President, these actions have a significant and lasting impact on America.

Trump’s harsh rhetoric created an unsafe environment in America. When our President openly used sexist, racist and generally ignorant remarks, it allowed people to freely make similarly offensive comments. When the President did this, it sent a message to the rest of America; if our leader does it, so can we.
When Trump said hateful words, people were listening; America was listening. White supremacists groups such as the KKK have always been around, just lying low in recent years until Trump came along. And there are many others who have only become more known in the Trump era, such as the Proud Boys, Evropa and more than 155 other groups active in the US.
When Trump preaches hate, people get the idea that it is correct behavior; that it is now tolerated. With this mindset, these groups, and the terrible actions they evoke, can thrive once again.
    Though I grew up sheltered, I was taught to always look out for myself, because even though everything might look safe, there may be someone who doesn’t like me because of who I am. Today, I don’t feel safe, and it’s not hidden anymore. Now, it’s out in the open, currently being praised by the Trump administration.
When I see the Proud Boys in the news wearing the slogan “6 Million Wasn’t Enough,” that horrifies me along with so many others. When shirts like that are for sale and are easily accessible, people are not ashamed to buy and wear them. This has created an unsafe living space that has affected everyone in some way, shape or form.
And in the current climate, to call out a crazy and radical hate group also suggests calling out the past president, because these groups often share his beliefs. Now, many people do not dare to call out the past president for fear of harsh consequences.  
Due to Trump’s role as the leader of the Republican party, everyone else has fallen in line or become silent. Not only does the party as a whole stay quiet when Trump refuses to condemn white supremacy, but they also overlook significant events and instead point fingers at “dangerous liberals.” Trump has divided America so much that calling out hate speech is a bipartisan issue and made it political to stand up for others.  
Trump’s election in 2016 is also associated with a drastic increase in hate crimes across the United States. The hate he preaches has now come to be accepted by many people as the new norm, with American values such as diversity and unity being shut out of our country. The Trump administration pushed and provoked the country to be more dysfunctional than ever before, and for America to tolerate this is unacceptable and unheard of.
Up until Jan. 6, many Republican leaders defended and deluded themselves into thinking that the actions of Trump were necessary to bring about his policies, or that this was how one needs to “let Trump be Trump.” But after that day, when he stirred up a rally at the Ellipse, when a mob of insurrectionists, some armed, marched on the Capitol building, breached its perimeter, broke windows, and pushed their way into the building and the offices of our congressional leadership, something changed. 
Since Trump descended that escalator in 2015, he has yelled a great deal, with his rhetoric now comparable to yelling fire in a crowded theater. Many political leaders were awakened that Wednesday to find that rather than defending America against flag burners and those who take a knee during the national anthem, America needs to defend itself from the domestic terrorists who are at the gates of our democracy.   
As President Joe Biden sets the tone for a new America, he states that these hate groups will not be tolerated. Biden promises to “end hate and fear” that are currently tearing this country apart.
“The forces of darkness, the forces of division, the forces of yesterday are pulling us apart, holding us down and holding us back,” Biden continues.
Biden and the 81 million Americans who voted for him are ready to get back on track. I am hopeful that after the inauguration, many others who will realize the American carnage that Trump has left in his wake will fall in place to restore America to a loving place, with open arms for all.