Anger, not just inequality, drives white working-class voters--progressives must face uncomfortable truths to push back. [View all]

[Celerity]

Why Trump Keeps Winning: The Truth No One Admits

https://www.socialeurope.eu/why-trump-keeps-winning-the-truth-no-one-admits



The criticism of Donald Trump and the actions of his administration since taking office has been intense, to say the least. Trump’s aggressive approach towards Volodymyr Zelensky, his repeated falsehoods about who instigated the war in Ukraine, the pardoning of violent criminals convicted for attacking Congress in January 2021, assertions that as president he is above the law, threats directed at Denmark and Canada, and the dismantling of longstanding US aid policies are among the actions that have drawn sharp condemnation. This criticism, and indeed more besides, is entirely justified and necessary.

Yet, there is a crucial question missing from the broader conversation: What exactly has America’s liberal, democratic, and culturally engaged elite done to provoke such profound anger—indeed, outright hatred—from large sections of the predominantly white working class and lower-middle class, driving them towards a politician like Donald Trump? It is astonishing to consider that it was not long ago that Barack Obama secured a second presidential term in 2012, suggesting that something significant must have occurred in the intervening years to prompt this dramatic reversal in American politics.

Economic inequality and hardship have frequently been cited as explanations for Trump’s rise. However, this cannot fully explain his appeal, as Obama secured re-election just four years after the global financial crisis. Similarly, racism, though deeply embedded in American society, is hardly a new phenomenon. Immigration is another often-cited factor, yet the United States has always been a nation of immigrants. While these elements have undoubtedly contributed, there must be another critical factor that enabled Trump not only to win but to win again—even after orchestrating an illegal attack on the US Congress.

To fully understand this shift, one must return to the 2016 presidential election. Early in the campaign, most informed commentators did not seriously consider Trump a viable Republican candidate. He lacked support from the party’s leading figures, had never held political office, and did not have access to the significant financial resources typically required for a successful presidential bid. However, one person who recognised Trump’s potential early on was Jim Clifton, then head of Gallup in the United States.

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