Unite against Trump’s populist allure

The Jewish Socialists’ Group is extremely alarmed but not shocked by the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. He has form: when he was last in office, he gave a huge boost to white supremacists, racists and fascists, and did terrible damage to migrants, refugees and all minorities, particularly threatening Muslims. He also encouraged violent antisemitism by nurturing conspiracy theories, including the “great replacement theory” which accuses Jews of bringing in migrants, in order to destroy the nation. And he whipped up hostility to feminists and campaigners for Black Lives Matter, Climate Justice and Antifa as dangerous extremists, working against the nation with “woke” ideas. So it is no surprise – but no less alarming – that, as he takes office again, he has announced his intention to deport millions of “illegal migrants”.

His own personal business empire, and his political alliance with the richest man on the planet, Elon Musk, imply that he will serve the interests of the wealthiest minority, in a bitterly and increasingly unequal society. But the populist policies on which he has won this landslide victory talk directly to the millions who are struggling economically. Their perception that the Democratic government has ignored their hardships, excluding them from power while prioritising the interests of the powerful, is well-founded.

In classical fascist style, Trump’s response has been to invite the poor, the disenfranchised and the voiceless into “the nation”. This includes African Americans and Hispanics, who he is setting against “illegal migrants”. Despite the chaos of his last presidency, and his renowned unpredictability, he has made an appealing promise to bring “a return to social order”.

He has also declared that he will stop “endless wars” across the world in order to focus on American “nation building”. It is possible he will bring an early end to the Ukraine war. Whether or not he ends other continuing wars is an open question, as he has enthusiastically encouraged Netanyahu's genocidal aims, but he undoubtedly tapped into a war-weary mood in the population, boosted by his promise to change the world order by challenging the power of the “liberal global elite” and making downtrodden people proud again.

His victory was enthusiastically welcomed by far-right political leaders and demagogues across the world, including Orbán in Hungary, Meloni in Italy, Wilders in The Netherlands, Netanyahu in Israel and Modi in India, along with Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson in Britain. They have all gathered support through similar populist promises, lining up favoured groups against those deemed to be causing their troubles.

Our response must be immediate, uncompromising and united. As well as building practical solidarity to defend all threatened groups, and asserting the right of everyone to live safely, and not under a pall of fear, we must talk to people who are being drawn towards the ideas and apparently simple explanations of Trump, Farage and other far-right, demagogic politicians.

We need to resist the far right on the streets, but we also need to persuade people that migrants are not the cause of their difficulties; that there is no hidden hand controlling their lives, but that a profoundly unequal system is pitting us against each other. Collaboration, mutual aid and solidarity will give us the strength to challenge that.

Unite against all racism and fascism. Unite for equality, dignity and social justice in our localities, in our communities, in our society, and across the world!