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Why Racists and Bigots are Drawn to Donald Trump: A Closer Look

As a liberal democrat, it’s vital to examine why this is happening, as well as the consequences for the broader American political landscape.

Libby Winkler
5 min readOct 21, 2024
Photo by Ehteshamul Haque Adit on Unsplash

Why Racists and Bigots are Drawn to Donald Trump: A Closer Look

Donald Trump’s rise to political prominence has sparked many debates across the political spectrum, but one undeniable truth is that his candidacy has attracted and emboldened some of the most bigoted and racist elements of society.

As a liberal democrat, it’s vital to examine why this is happening, as well as the consequences for the broader American political landscape.

The Power of Rhetoric and Dog Whistles

Since the beginning of his political career, Trump has been adept at utilizing coded language — dog whistles — that appeal to racists without overtly saying anything explicitly racist.

From his infamous comments about Mexican immigrants being “rapists” and “criminals” to his proposal of a “Muslim ban,” Trump has successfully signaled to bigots that he is on their side.

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Libby Winkler
Libby Winkler

Written by Libby Winkler

Freelance writer who loves exploring the messiness of humanity, while poking around in nooks of life and shining light on all the things that make us complex..

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