The truth in popular Trumpism

    Most Brits recognise that Donald Trump is a dangerous figurehead of a dangerous movement, one that’s stoked the fires of bigotry in ways we never thought possible, since its inception last year. He is widely recognised as being an incompetent buffoon – he is no longer allowed access to his own Twitter, for example – and yet, his support continues to be large. His rise is unprecedented; if he won, he would be only the fourth President of the United States not to have previously held political office. Why does he garner so much support from the average American if he stands for hurt and bigotry? It seems obvious, but the fact of the matter is that the underlying motivations of making America great again are not rooted in hatred, but hope.

    Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, is a bastion of the establishment. People support her for a variety of reasons, but one of the greatest is the sheer horror provoked by the idea of a Trump presidency. Hillary is knowable, partially owing to her political dynasty that began with Bill. She has been part of the Democratic system for well over 20 years. She is intrinsically linked to a range of corporate and political interests. She could do great things for America, but, in comparison to Trump, she stands for little deviation from the status quo. When people back Hillary on the basis of Trump’s incongruence, they believe they are backing a safe bet. This is true, but couldn’t that mean there’s something powerful, maybe even righteous, in Trump’s words? He has the best words, after all.

    Donald Trump posits original views on occasion, but these are clouded by the problematic and often bigoted policy decisions that lie at the heart of his campaign. For example, the Donald has made entirely valid observations about the degree to which America’s status as the peacekeeper and the centre of the West have meant the country expends vast amounts of money protecting interests other than its own. He has also highlighted how crony capitalism and lobbying hurt the political system in America. Most importantly, he highlights how the economy of today is not helping the average American half as much as it could. It’s true that as a politician, he is dangerous, inflammatory, and often incomprehensible, but his complaints themselves are very sound indeed.

    It is these complaints that are often hidden under a media firestorm over Trump’s latest bout of racism or sexism. The ideas that lie behind his proposals are often masked as being simply populist rather than standing for anything more substantial. While Clinton is a stalwart, reliable candidate with a progressive manifesto and a good tenure, she is very much a part of the American political establishment. It is why her campaign has continually suffered from seeming pre-planned, and why Trump supporters have taken to calling her Crooked Hillary. Regardless of which candidate is a superior rhetorician, Trump is a thousand times more genuine – gaffes and all.

    Supporting Donald Trump in this election would be a mistake. He maintains a myriad of frankly inane policy choices, including but not limited to his border wall, the halt on all Muslim immigration, and a completely backward stance on climate change. However, it must be said that his ideas are symptomatic of an honest protest that modern politics fails to tackle. It is the disillusionment of the average citizen, a sense of feeling left behind, that draws them to Trump, or that perhaps even drew them to Bernie. The middle and working classes of America are stagnating even through periods of economic growth, and inequality is becoming a perpetual issue. The status quo, as it appears to the average American, is one where not much is going right, and while America is chipper as ever internationally, its domestic visage is crippled.

    The issue is one of a flagging ‘nation’ in a globalised economy. It is a problem that everyone is quietly aware of, but that no one wants to solve. While Trump’s solutions are horrifying, they at least exist; the Clinton campaign consistently refuses to even acknowledge the problem. Simply rolling your eyes and tutting ‘silly Donald’ is to completely ignore what Trump stands for – and Trump himself is symbolic of a wider movement with much the same beliefs. The threats that worry the average Trump voter are very real indeed, but the Establishment has shown no intent of facing them. The cause of making America great again has no reason to evaporate. If Hillary is elected tomorrow, then all the better for America – but the legacy of Trump will only grow.