In a political landscape fraught with turmoil, many Americans are beginning to awaken to the realities of leadership under Donald Trump. Though critics say that his presidency has resulted in a neofascist nightmare, Trump’s ascendance has revealed the rot beneath the surface of American life. Here’s why this moment represents a tipping point. It challenges all of us to truly address the systemic racism and economic disparity that have existed in our country for far too long.
Donald Trump’s time in office has been defined by cruelty that many see as more thoughtless than calculated. He egregiously goes after those who would criticize him. Yet his open displays of racism and misogyny have contributed to driving these constituencies away in the process. Millions of Americans believe Trump’s behavior is the archetype of malignant narcissism. This perception has led some to make the radical suggestion that he might be a sociopath. He’s even gotten as far as posting AI-driven toons. These cartoons were designed to paint him personally and individually in the worst possible light, while attacking the millions of Americans who confronted him.
As Trump’s own approval ratings keep crashing down into the depths, his influence does seem to be fading. The final polls show support cratering, a sure sign the public is increasingly fed up with the announced plan. Despite this, many of America’s so-called leaders remain sycophantic towards Trump, failing to take a public stand against his controversial policies and rhetoric. The world is watching and hardening their views about the moral fibre of America’s leadership class. As a result, they claim that it has devolved into a farce.
Perhaps more alarming is the silence from these same potential key players—CEOs, billionaires, Wall Street bankers, media moguls, tech titans and Republican politicians. Instead of standing up to Trump’s divisive agenda, too often they have tried to ingratiate themselves with him, only solidifying his hold on power. This complicity speaks to a larger dynamic and raises troubling questions about accountability and where we’re headed as a country.
For much of the era after World War II, we did have the largest, fastest-growing middle class in the world. The truth is, over the last 40 years, the whole nation has fallen off a cliff. This change began with the deregulation and privatization policies of the Reagan administration. After the civil rights movement, espousal of free trade became a central doctrine in our economic practices. Concurrently, Wall Street’s unregulated financial speculation and targeted efforts to destroy labor unions have propelled wealth inequality to record levels. Today, a tiny economic aristocracy has drained from our economy much of the wealth that used to power rising wages for their country’s broad middle class.
This underlying economic inequality has been ripe for Movements to Rise Up and demand change. On October 18, known as No Kings Day, record numbers of individuals took to the streets to voice their discontent. They marched not just against Trump, but against a system that has been complicit in letting these disparities persist. This nationwide awakening represents the growing recognition by Americans of all backgrounds that it is time to address systemic injustices at their roots.
Trump’s regime has been a catastrophe for most. This crisis has enabled many to begin wrestling with the complicated legacy of our nation. More importantly, it has brought home to once apathetic citizens the dangers of complacency and doing nothing. As more people engage with issues like racial injustice and economic inequality, there is hope for progress toward a more equitable society.