US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to "permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries" in order for the US system to fully recover. While the exact workings of this policy are unclear, it is reminiscent of a 2016 speech by Richard Spencer, the leader of the now-defunct white nationalist movement known as the alt-right. In that speech, Spencer proposed a 50-year ban on non-European immigration.
The alt-right movement emerged in the late 2000s as an offshoot of the conservative movement. It posits that the US should be a country governed by its white majority and that immigration from poor or "Third World" countries is incompatible with American culture. This view holds that migrants cannot adapt to American society and that bringing them here would make the country poorer, weaker, and dirtier.
The alt-right movement has been largely discredited, but its ideas have gained traction within the Republican Party. The Trump administration has adopted many of these views, including a proposal for an "Office of Remigration" to deal with Somali migrants in Minnesota. White House adviser Stephen Miller has also invoked the concept of "magic dirt," which holds that immigrants cannot be transformed by assimilation into the American way.
In recent months, leading conservative activist Chris Rufo has argued that Somalis and other non-white groups are culturally incompatible with America and should be subject to stricter controls. This line of thinking has become increasingly mainstream within the Republican Party.
The alt-right movement as a distinct entity has largely collapsed due to lawsuits and internal divisions. However, its ideology has been adopted by many within the party, including some who have risen to high-ranking positions in the administration. As such, Trump's policy proposal can be seen as an example of the alt-right's ideological success: its ideas are now being openly promoted from the highest levels of power.
The fact that these views are no longer considered "alternative" but rather mainstream suggests a shift within the Republican Party. This is partly due to efforts by figures like Tucker Carlson and President Trump himself, who have sought to drive more moderate voices out of the party and promote an agenda of radical immigration restriction.
Overall, the US is now living in a world where ideas that were once considered toxic are being openly promoted from the highest offices in the country. This reflects both the ideological success of the alt-right movement and the Trump administration's efforts to reshape the Republican Party in its image.
The alt-right movement emerged in the late 2000s as an offshoot of the conservative movement. It posits that the US should be a country governed by its white majority and that immigration from poor or "Third World" countries is incompatible with American culture. This view holds that migrants cannot adapt to American society and that bringing them here would make the country poorer, weaker, and dirtier.
The alt-right movement has been largely discredited, but its ideas have gained traction within the Republican Party. The Trump administration has adopted many of these views, including a proposal for an "Office of Remigration" to deal with Somali migrants in Minnesota. White House adviser Stephen Miller has also invoked the concept of "magic dirt," which holds that immigrants cannot be transformed by assimilation into the American way.
In recent months, leading conservative activist Chris Rufo has argued that Somalis and other non-white groups are culturally incompatible with America and should be subject to stricter controls. This line of thinking has become increasingly mainstream within the Republican Party.
The alt-right movement as a distinct entity has largely collapsed due to lawsuits and internal divisions. However, its ideology has been adopted by many within the party, including some who have risen to high-ranking positions in the administration. As such, Trump's policy proposal can be seen as an example of the alt-right's ideological success: its ideas are now being openly promoted from the highest levels of power.
The fact that these views are no longer considered "alternative" but rather mainstream suggests a shift within the Republican Party. This is partly due to efforts by figures like Tucker Carlson and President Trump himself, who have sought to drive more moderate voices out of the party and promote an agenda of radical immigration restriction.
Overall, the US is now living in a world where ideas that were once considered toxic are being openly promoted from the highest offices in the country. This reflects both the ideological success of the alt-right movement and the Trump administration's efforts to reshape the Republican Party in its image.