OPINION: Trump’s pursuit of white nationalism leads to wars and domestic oppression

In the thick of the presidential campaign Donald Trump declared himself to be “the peace candidate.” He stated not only would he keep us out of wars, but would end the wars being fought in places like Gaza, Ukraine, and Yemen. Yet, today he is literally stirring the pot. 

Many people had either believed him or cared only if it advanced the agenda of white nationalism. Others, however, realized that it was all big talk and bluster since he had not done anything when he was previously in office to achieve the goal of ending or preventing war in those same places. 

There are clear examples on this point. 

There is the fact that during his first administration, Trump had, on his own, pulled-out of an agreement preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Had that agreement remained intact, Iran would not be the threat Trump’s administration now claims that it is, and therefore, no pretext for the recent bombings. 

Second, many people also remember the assistance to and encouragement Trump provided for Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in his prosecuting the war in Gaza. It was to such an extent Netanyahu openly rooted for Trump’s re-election against Joe Biden and later Kamala Harris. Had he been less supportive of Netanyahu that military campaign would be stopped by now. 

Third, instead of providing more aid to Ukraine and putting pressure on Vladimir Putin to halt Russia’s aggression, Trump openly courted Putin, egging him on in that war. Trump went so far as threatening to withdraw America from NATO if there was more support for Ukraine.

Finally, during his first administration, the U.S. bombed and made war against Yemen and referred to African nations by un-printable names. That continues to reflect his attitude toward African peoples and is in keeping with the pursuit of White Nationalism. 

In each case above, Trump in his new administration has picked up where he left off, bringing us closer to war in each instance. There can easily become a war of wider complexity, drawing in American soldiers in Iran and surrounding nations. Because of Trump’s personality and the nature of his advisors, there could develop American-involved military actions in Israel, Africa, and other places not even contemplated yet.

While not much has been made of it in the media yet, Trump’s white racist outlook and tendencies is what motivates and ties the war tinder-boxes together. In the case of Iran, we are looking at a Middle Eastern country that is an ally to its neighboring Arabs versus Israel, which has been associated with the Western powers economically and through migration since World War II. That conflict is further involved in the racial nature of global politics based upon the American and European idea that so-called Third World people should not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. 

In the case of the Israelis and the Palestinians, it is again a European-oriented country, Israel vs. Arabic people, Palestinians, with Trump backing the non-Arabic country. The dispute also harkens back to the issue of colonialism since it began with European Jews occupying land that had been occupied by Arabs.

In the case of Yemen, what one sees is Trump attempting to re-gain an African economic foothold there by siding with an Arabic ally and the ousted regime against a Persian enemy and the victorious rebels. Although the Trump administration is anti-Arabic, it backs what it feels is the side that can help him the most in a battle of neo-colonialism.

The same type of battle can be seen in the case of Russia vs. Ukraine. The added feature in that war is that Trump, for whatever reason, is personally tied to Putin, as opposed to a democratic Ukraine

We realize many people do not follow foreign affairs nearly as closely as they do domestic matters involving economics and political rights. In these wars and near, however, one is able to follow and understand certain foreign affairs by linking them to well-known domestic positions of Trump and his administration. 

The Trump position on immigration, economic benefits, tariffs and taxes, health care, voting rights, racial justice, and a host of other issues are reflected in and can be predictors of where Trump stands when it comes to war and foreign affairs. It can also give one an indication of where to stand when it comes to history and human rights.