Trump’s racial strategy of “them against us” is more alive than ever

By Maribel Hastings WASHINGTON, DC

On Sunday, President Donald J. Trump challenged progressive Democratic members of congress to return “to the crime-infested countries infested from which they came.” Although Trump does not name them, he referred to the four House members elected in the interim elections of 2018: Alexandria Ocasio Cortés, born in New York and of Puerto Rican descent; Ayana Pressley, from Massachusetts; Ilhan Omar, of Minnesota; and Rashida Tlaib, from Michigan. Only Omar is an immigrant and arrived here as a refugee from Somalia at 10 years of age. She is a citizen of the United States.

It is obvious that for Trump to be American means to be white. And it is this premise that moves his re-election campaign strategy, as well as his political strategy and public policy decisions, especially on immigration matters. In fact, Trump has been announcing the beginning of raids in several cities across the country to arrest immigrants with final orders of deportation, an action that for Trump is another chapter of the reality show which is his presidency, to inflict terror among the immigrant community and demonstrate to his followers that he is fulfilling what he promised. In fact, to assure you that his plan to promote division will guide his re-election campaign.

On Sunday, Trump affirmed that progressive Democratic representatives must “return” to the countries “where they came from,” even if that country is the United States. “Go back to your country” is the preferred phrase of the prejudiced, and many of us have been its target, especially when speaking Spanish in public, even if we are American citizens. What can immigrants then hope for in the interior of the country and migrants who arrive at the border or who are already detained and crowded in subhuman conditions?
If your government does not even have compassion for migrant children and babies detained in unhealthy conditions documented by the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is anyone still questioning that Trump’s only goal is to politically exploit the divisive strategy of “them against us” based on nativism, prejudice and racism?
And of course, his accomplices follow suit. Just refer to the visit of Vice President Mike Pence to the border last Friday. While the press cameras covering the vice president showed the terrible conditions of overcrowding and unhealthiness and the reporters themselves indicated that the pestilence was overwhelming and that even some agents wore masks due to the bad smell, Pence tried to minimize the conditions and, of course, blamed the Democrats for the lack of funds to address the crisis. He even labeled as “dishonest” a CNN video of overcrowding.

You only had to see Pence’s face when he observed the caged migrants. It seemed like he wanted to run away. But he had to complete the visit to make people believe that there is compassion, when Trump is actually using the humanitarian crisis for electoral purposes. The image of crowded dark faces serves Trump in his plans to promote fear and prejudice among his base.

I wonder where Pence hides his Bible and the religious precepts that he defends so much, when he does dirty work for Trump? Pence did his job and turned his back on the problem.

But the damage inflicted, especially the psychological damage to children, is already done.

Because Trump and his government have shown us anything, it is that cruelty and prejudice have no limits, whether they are children, or former presidents, or congressmen who do not fit the racial mold that this president defends. The electoral strategy of “them (the colored ones) against us (the whites)” continues to thrive in Trump’s reelection plans. (America’s Voice)

It is obvious that for Trump to be American means to be white. And it is this premise that moves his re-election campaign strategy, as well as his political strategy and public policy decisions, especially on immigration matters. In fact, Trump has been announcing the beginning of raids in several cities across the country to arrest immigrants with final orders of deportation, an action that for Trump is another chapter of the reality show which is his presidency, to inflict terror among the immigrant community and demonstrate to his followers that he is fulfilling what he promised. In fact, to assure you that his plan to promote division will guide his re-election campaign.
On Sunday, Trump affirmed that progressive Democratic representatives must “return” to the countries “where they came from,” even if that country is the United States. “Go back to your country” is the preferred phrase of the prejudiced, and many of us have been its target, especially when speaking Spanish in public, even if we are American citizens. What can immigrants then hope for in the interior of the country and migrants who arrive at the border or who are already detained and crowded in subhuman conditions?
If your government does not even have compassion for migrant children and babies detained in unhealthy conditions documented by the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is anyone still questioning that Trump’s only goal is to politically exploit the divisive strategy of “them against us” based on nativism, prejudice and racism?
And of course, his accomplices follow suit. Just refer to the visit of Vice President Mike Pence to the border last Friday. While the press cameras covering the vice president showed the terrible conditions of overcrowding and unhealthiness and the reporters themselves indicated that the pestilence was overwhelming and that even some agents wore masks due to the bad smell, Pence tried to minimize the conditions and, of course, blamed the Democrats for the lack of funds to address the crisis. He even labeled as “dishonest” a CNN video of overcrowding.
You only had to see Pence’s face when he observed the caged migrants. It seemed like he wanted to run away. But he had to complete the visit to make people believe that there is compassion, when Trump is actually using the humanitarian crisis for electoral purposes. The image of crowded dark faces serves Trump in his plans to promote fear and prejudice among his base.
I wonder where Pence hides his Bible and the religious precepts that he defends so much, when he does dirty work for Trump? Pence did his job and turned his back on the problem.
But the damage inflicted, especially the psychological damage to children, is already done.
Because Trump and his government have shown us anything, it is that cruelty and prejudice have no limits, whether they are children, or former presidents, or congressmen who do not fit the racial mold that this president defends. The electoral strategy of “them (the colored ones) against us (the whites)” continues to thrive in Trump’s reelection plans. (America’s Voice)