Donald Trump's 'racist' tweets are strategic and should surprise few
When it comes to race and identity politics, Donald Trump stokes the fire like no other president, says Sky's Cordelia Lynch.
Saturday 20 July 2019 09:58, UK
Be in no doubt about it, Donald Trump's tweets are strategic.
When it comes to race and identity politics, he stokes the fire like no other president. His goading of ethnic minority congresswomen appalled many, but it should surprise few.
He's been pursuing an "us-against-them" strategy since the beginning of his presidency. He appeals to the resentments and frustrations of white America and insists he is only stating what others are too scared to say.
Yesterday, he declared with confidence he did not mind being called a racist because many people agree with him.
The reality is, he's right.
Politically, though, he is trying to re-brand it as a fight about patriotism, antisemitism and socialism - a far more palatable battle for his party, of course.
Today the senior leadership have already taken up the fight, characterising "The Squad" as anti-Israel.
Somali-born US citizen Ilhan Omar was the target when Mr Trump doubled down on his tweets.
Back in February, the Democratic congresswoman apologised for suggesting US politicians only support Israel because of lobby money.
Those expecting some seismic split between the man in the White House and conventional Republicans on Capitol Hill should surely realise now that it ain't gonna happen.
I spent the day there yesterday speaking to senators and representatives in the House. The corridors were predictably bustling with Democrats denouncing the tweets.
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But on the other side of the aisle there was virtual silence, only a handful of familiar critics suggesting the president had stepped over the line by telling four US citizens to "go back home".
However uncomfortable some Republicans may feel about his racially-tinged politics, most are reluctant to get involved in his Twitter controversies, however offensive and fundamental they may be.
The president is also more popular than some incumbents are.
For now, and possibly another four years, he is their guy.
This might be a multicultural, multiracial country, but he also knows some of his supporters loathe the idea of an outspoken, more diverse cohort of progressives could set the tone for the country.
The party also knows the economy is prospering, the election is round the corner and the president has avoided any major foreign policy disasters. Few want to distract from that.
"The Squad" say Mr Trump is in the business of distraction, though - engaging in incendiary tweets in order to sidestep problems around the citizenship census he had to abandon, ICE raids and conditions in detention facilities.
He is now trying to point people to bad poll numbers for the four freshmen congresswoman and focus on the perceived rift between them and the more established House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
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It is certainly true that they have had some tense times of late about what to do at the border and with children in custody. More broadly, the Democratic Party also seems to be deciding exactly who and what it now represents.
But the party rallied together in the wake of Mr Trump's tweets. If Mr Trump sought to expose splits, he didn't succeed.
But congresswoman Ayanna Pressley knows there's a danger in this debate. I was in the crowded room of reporters when she said they must focus on policy going forward and not "take the bait".
It will be a defining test that could be the deciding factor in who leads America.
As she left, I asked her if she feared President Trump might attract voters with his divided language.
"I believe the capacity of our humanity," she said.
"I'm an eternal optimist and I'm betting on the American people."