Trump’s Speech: How’d He Do?
Sahar Aziz: Solidarity with his far-right, anti-Muslim base
Donald Trump prides himself on snubbing political correctness. Thus, he made sure to emphasize that the terrorism he is fighting is “Islamic.”
But in promising not to allow a “beachhead of terrorism to form inside America,” Trump failed to inform the American people that right wing extremists — not Muslims — are the largest domestic terrorists. Since 9/11, twice as many people have been killed by white supremacists than terrorists claiming to be Muslims. Indeed, anti-Muslim hate groups have nearly tripled since 2015. And these white supremacists have been terrorizing Muslims (and other racial minorities) through mosque vandalization, assault, and even murder.
While Trump rightfully acknowledged the rise in hate crimes against Jewish communities, he was resoundingly silent about the rise in attacks and discrimination against American Muslims. Even his mention of the shooting in Kansas City left out that the victims were apparently mistaken for Muslim. Trump’s material omissions demonstrate that he did not have American Muslims in mind when he stated “We are one people, with one destiny. We all bleed the same blood.”
Evidently, Trump is concerned with political correctness more than he admits — the type imposed by his far right, anti-Muslim base.
Sahar Aziz is associate professor at Texas A&M University School of Law, where she teaches national security, civil rights, and Middle East law. She is also a fellow at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding.
This article was published by CNN on March 1, 2017.
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