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Former U.S. President Donald Trump has long faced accusations of racism and xenophobia, particularly towards immigrants from Haiti and Latin America. His recent remarks about revoking Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, add new weight to these claims, raising the question of whether Trump’s hostility towards these groups stems from deeply held beliefs or a calculated political strategy aimed at energizing his voter base.
A Pattern of Xenophobic Rhetoric
Throughout his political career, Trump has used inflammatory language to depict immigrants, especially those from non-European countries, as threats to the United States. His notorious comment in 2018 referring to Haiti and African nations as “shithole countries” ignited widespread outrage and reinforced perceptions of Trump as racially insensitive. More recently, Trump escalated his rhetoric against Haitian migrants, pledging to revoke their TPS and deport them back to Haiti—a country grappling with violence and instability.
Speaking at a campaign event in Springfield, Ohio, Trump blamed the influx of Haitian migrants for the town’s problems, even making the outlandish, baseless claim during a recent debate that the migrants had been “eating their neighbor’s pets.” This remark sparked bomb threats at local schools and created a wave of fear and hostility in the community. Despite this, Trump doubled down, reiterating in a NewsNation interview that removing the Haitian migrants was essential to preserving the country, stating, “We cannot destroy our country.”
The situation in Springfield is just the latest example of Trump using race-based fear-mongering to rally his supporters. Since relocating to Springfield in recent years, around 15,000 Haitian migrants have relied on TPS to stay in the U.S. legally due to Haiti’s ongoing instability. Trump’s threats to remove TPS reflect a broader trend of targeting vulnerable immigrant groups for political gain.
Racism or Political Strategy?
Many observers argue that Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies are not just random acts of racism but part of a larger political strategy designed to appeal to White nationalist sentiments. As research from the Brookings Institution indicates, Trump’s political rise was significantly driven by racism, xenophobia, and sexism rather than the economic anxieties some initially believed. His rhetoric is often designed to tap into the fears of White Americans who are anxious about the country’s shifting demographics.
For instance, studies show that Trump’s campaign rallies in 2016 were linked to a rise in hate crimes in the areas where they were held, suggesting that his speeches emboldened individuals to act on racist beliefs. FBI data further revealed a spike in hate crimes in counties where Trump won by large margins, underscoring the connection between his rhetoric and an increase in racially motivated violence. This trend continues today, as evidenced by the recent threats in Springfield following Trump’s incendiary comments.
Trump’s strategy of stoking fear of immigrants has been particularly effective in areas like Ohio, where Republican voters, including his running mate Senator J.D. Vance, have echoed his anti-Haitian rhetoric. Vance, in fact, reposted Trump’s baseless claims about migrants on social media, further inflaming tensions in Springfield.
Impact on Haitians and Latinos
While Trump’s inflammatory remarks serve his political interests, the consequences for Haitian and Latino communities are profound. Haitian migrants, many of whom have fled gang violence and political instability, are particularly vulnerable. TPS, which allows migrants to remain in the U.S. when their home countries are unsafe to return to, has been a critical lifeline for Haitians. Yet, Trump’s repeated threats to revoke TPS reflect a willingness to disregard their safety for political gain.
Similarly, Trump’s policies and rhetoric have disproportionately impacted Latinos, the largest minority group in the U.S. During his presidency, Trump repeatedly associated Latino immigrants with crime, referring to Mexican immigrants as “rapists” and pushing for a border wall to prevent what he called an “invasion” of migrants. Research shows that his campaign’s racially charged messaging activated fears of demographic change among many White voters, helping him secure their support.
A 2021 study published in Daedalus highlighted how Trump’s anti-Latino rhetoric not only exploited preexisting fears about immigration but also legitimized White nationalist views. By positioning Latinos as outsiders and threats to national security, Trump reinforced racialized narratives that have long been used to justify discriminatory immigration policies.
Conclusion: Belief or Strategy?
Trump’s actions towards Haitians and Latinos appear to be both a reflection of personal prejudices and a calculated strategy to maintain political power. His repeated use of racially charged language and his targeting of vulnerable immigrant groups serve to stoke fear and division among voters, particularly in predominantly White areas concerned about demographic shifts. Whether his views are deeply held or politically expedient, the result is the same: a reinforcement of xenophobia and racism in the national discourse.
By focusing on Haitian migrants in Springfield and Latinos at the border, Trump has once again used race as a tool to energize his base ahead of the 2024 election. The consequences, however, go far beyond political calculations—these communities face real harm as a result of his rhetoric, from the rise in hate crimes to the threat of mass deportations.
