Part 4: How Trump’s Policies Galvanized White Nationalists and Extremists: Southern Strategy 2.0
Extremist Violence and Racial Polarization on the Rise
Enjoying the content? Help support independent journalism by becoming a paid subscriber!
Introduction: Trump’s Failure to Condemn White Nationalism
Donald Trump’s Southern Strategy 2.0 did more than just exploit racial fears and anxieties—it actively emboldened and galvanized white nationalist and extremist groups.
Unlike Nixon’s Southern Strategy, which relied on coded language and subtle appeals to white resentment, Trump’s strategy often featured overt racism and a refusal to distance himself from white supremacists and far-right groups.
His repeated failure to unequivocally condemn white nationalism, along with his racially charged rhetoric, created a political environment where extremist groups felt empowered and legitimized.
This article will explore how Trump’s actions and policies not only failed to discourage white nationalists but also gave them a platform to thrive.
Trump’s Empowering of Extremist Groups
Perhaps the most infamous moment of Trump’s relationship with white nationalists came after the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The rally, organized by white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups, was intended to protest the removal of a Confederate statue and quickly devolved into violence, culminating in the death of anti-racism activist Heather Heyer.
Despite the clear display of racist ideology and violence, Trump’s response was to claim that there were “very fine people on both sides,” a statement that shocked many Americans and was widely condemned as an endorsement of the white nationalist movement.
Trump’s comments after Charlottesville were seen by many as a deliberate attempt to avoid alienating his base, which included far-right supporters.
White nationalist leaders, including former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, publicly praised Trump’s response, interpreting it as a sign of his alignment with their cause.
This moment was a significant departure from previous Republican leaders, who, while employing elements of the Southern Strategy, had typically sought to distance themselves from overtly racist and extremist groups.
Dog Whistles Turned Megaphones: Mainstreaming Extremism
While Nixon and other Republicans of the past relied on dog whistles—coded language that allowed them to appeal to racial anxieties without directly endorsing racism—Trump often dispensed with subtlety altogether.
Trump’s rhetoric, both on the campaign trail and during his presidency, frequently veered into overt racist territory, creating an environment where extremist groups felt emboldened to come out of the shadows.
One of Trump’s most notable moments of tacit support for extremist groups came during the first 2020 presidential debate when, after being asked to condemn the far-right group Proud Boys, Trump instead told them to “stand back and stand by.”
This statement was immediately celebrated by members of the Proud Boys, who interpreted it as an endorsement of their activities. Despite later attempts by Trump to walk back the comment, the damage was done.
White nationalist and far-right groups saw Trump as their ally in the White House, a leader who would not only refuse to condemn them but would, in fact, give them tacit approval.
Trump’s use of inflammatory rhetoric extended beyond moments like these.
Throughout his presidency, he regularly employed language that dehumanized immigrants and people of color, referring to Mexican immigrants as “rapists,” calling majority-Black cities “infested” with crime, and characterizing Muslim immigrants as a threat to national security.
This rhetoric, far from being the traditional dog whistle, was a megaphone—an unmistakable signal to white nationalists that the highest office in the country was legitimizing their views.
Policies That Emboldened White Nationalists
Trump’s administration also implemented policies that aligned with the racial and cultural grievances of far-right groups.
His hardline immigration policies, including the family separation policy and the Muslim travel ban, were seen by white nationalists as evidence that their views were gaining traction in mainstream politics.
These policies weren’t just about controlling immigration; they were about maintaining a racial and cultural hierarchy that placed white Americans at the top.
The family separation policy, which led to the detention of thousands of immigrant children away from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border, was widely condemned as inhumane.
However, for Trump’s supporters in the far-right, this was a necessary step to protect the country from what they saw as an invasion of non-white immigrants.
Similarly, the Muslim travel ban was a clear signal to white nationalists that Trump was willing to take extreme measures to prevent the diversification of the United States.
These policies, alongside Trump’s racially charged rhetoric, emboldened white nationalists by showing that their views on race and immigration were being enacted at the highest levels of government.
The Southern Strategy 2.0 wasn’t just about winning votes by appealing to white resentment; it was about creating an environment where extremist views on race and national identity could flourish.
Readers Like You Keep This Free
This platform is powered by readers like you. Your support allows us to keep all content free and accessible to everyone.
Extremist Violence and the Trump Era
The rise in white nationalist activity during Trump’s presidency also coincided with an increase in extremist violence.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported that white supremacist propaganda distribution reached historic levels during Trump’s time in office, and several high-profile acts of violence were carried out by individuals motivated by far-right ideology.
One of the most devastating examples was the 2018 mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, where 11 people were killed by a gunman who believed that Jews were responsible for the influx of immigrants into the country.
The gunman’s beliefs were influenced by far-right conspiracy theories about immigration and the role of Jews in facilitating demographic change—conspiracy theories that had been echoed, albeit in more veiled terms, by Trump’s rhetoric about immigration and the influence of wealthy, liberal elites.
Similarly, the 2019 mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, where a gunman targeted Hispanic immigrants and killed 23 people, was directly motivated by white nationalist fears of a “Hispanic invasion” of the United States.
The gunman’s manifesto echoed Trump’s rhetoric about immigrants as invaders, illustrating the dangerous consequences of the president’s inflammatory language.
Conclusion: Trump’s Legacy of Empowering White Nationalists
Donald Trump’s Southern Strategy 2.0 did more than revive Nixon’s tactics of racial polarization—it emboldened and empowered white nationalist and far-right extremist groups in ways that had not been seen in mainstream American politics for decades.
Trump’s refusal to condemn white nationalists, his frequent use of dehumanizing rhetoric, and his administration’s policies on immigration and law enforcement sent a clear signal to these groups that their views were not only acceptable but were being legitimized at the highest levels of power.
The consequences of Trump’s Southern Strategy 2.0 are still being felt today. The rise in extremist violence, the increased visibility of white nationalist groups, and the deepening of racial divisions in the United States are all part of the legacy that Trump leaves behind.
In the next article, we’ll explore the long-term political consequences of Trump’s Southern Strategy 2.0, including how it has reshaped the GOP and the broader political landscape.