Ronald Brownstein documents Trump’s steep descent in zeno-phobia

Ronald Brownstein’s new article in the Atlantic highlights the escalating intensity of Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric during his current campaign. “Even by his standards, the volume and venom of Trump’s attacks on immigrants have amped up sharply during this campaign.” Trump’s immigrant rhetoric is increasingly extreme and detached from factual reality.

Trump and J.D. Vance have made numerous claims about immigrants, including accusations of job theft, crime increases, housing cost inflation, disease spread, voter fraud, and resource depletion. Brownstein systematically debunks these claims, citing data and local records that contradict the candidates’ assertions. For instance, violent crime rates have been declining, and research suggests undocumented immigrants commit fewer offenses than native-born Americans. Employment data also refutes claims about job theft, showing significant job growth among native-born Americans.

He expresses particular concern over Trump’s dehumanizing language towards immigrants, noting his use of terms like “poisoning the blood” and referring to them as “animals” or not even “people.” The article draws parallels between this rhetoric and historical instances of dangerous xenophobia. A 1917 anti-immigration screed by James Murphy Ward even referred to immigrants (in this instance Chinese) making soup out of rats

Brownstein notes that Trump’s recent on genetics and murder suggest a turn towards eugenics in his campaign messaging.

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