As Donald Trump’s influence wanes, he has increasingly targeted female journalists and ethnic groups, with recent attacks aimed at Somali Americans. His incendiary remarks often gain traction not through truth but rather through the power of his rhetoric. Similarly, his administration’s combative stance towards immigrants is driven more by misinformation than by facts. The true target of these attacks extends beyond individuals with criminal records; it encompasses anyone perceived as ‘other,’ disproportionately affecting communities of color, including Native Americans, veterans, and everyday citizens.

“ICE raids are cruel, inhumane, and do nothing to serve public safety,” declares Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayor-elect. These violent actions, including masked individuals terrorizing families and disrupting businesses, have only exacerbated fear and anxiety across diverse communities. The barrage of hateful rhetoric from Trump and his allies—particularly aimed at groups from Haiti during the 2024 campaign, Venezuela during the summer months, and most recently Somali populations—relies heavily on defamatory lies that do not reflect the realities of these communities.

This campaign of intimidation and demonization appears to strive for a mythical vision of a homogenous America that never truly existed. While there were demographics skewed towards whiteness in the past, the historical fabric of the U.S. has always been diverse. In the late 18th century, a significant percentage of the population included Black and Indigenous individuals. Moreover, the U.S.’s expansionist policies brought large populations of Spanish speakers into the nation, particularly during the annexation of Texas and subsequent territorial acquisitions.

Efforts to forcibly reshape America through mass deportations and persecution will not create the far-right’s envisioned ‘white nation.’ For instance, cities like Los Angeles are nearly half Latino, and despite ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) initiatives, this demographic reality remains unchanged. The city’s very name serves as a historical reminder of its diverse roots. Such racial animus is perceived as a desperate attempt from fearful factions to reclaim an untenable demographic majority through sheer cruelty.

The assault on reproductive rights further underscores the administration’s agenda, which seems to aim at incentivizing white women to increase their birth rates amidst concerns about declining population figures. This approach, however, neglects to provide genuine support to parents and instead resorts to punitive measures that have proven ineffective. Critics have noted that this pronatalist stance, evidenced in JD Vance’s rhetoric, intertwines a concern for birth rates with anti-immigration and anti-feminist ideologies.

Additionally, reproductive rights advocates assert that current policies aimed at boosting birth rates do not equate with broader support for women and children, often disregarding the essential services that aid families. The focus on procreation appears less about fostering families than about advancing a conservative agenda that threatens the well-being of women and their children.

Ultimately, the anti-immigration policies and pronatalist agenda reflect a misguided vision for the country’s demographic future. These approaches showcase a troubling form of bullying based on race and gender, rooted in a fragility that exposes deeper insecurities regarding the shifting landscape of American society.

Moreover, the Trump administration’s justifications for its policies often fail to align with reality. For example, initiatives targeting small boats in the southern Caribbean are ineffective due to the lack of evidence implicating these vessels in drug trafficking, highlighting a disconnect between policy and actual circumstances.

In a recent White House document, officials asserted, “We reject the disastrous ‘climate change’ and ‘Net Zero’ ideologies.” This sentiment underscores a nostalgic commitment to fossil fuels, particularly coal, contrary to the growing demand for renewable energy solutions. These actions not only endanger public health but also perpetuate anti-scientific rhetoric and policies detrimental to the nation.

The narrative that positions immigrants of color as intruders fails to resonate with local communities across the United States. From Los Angeles to North Carolina, public sentiment increasingly views the violence perpetrated by ICE agents as the true threat. The rejection of Trumpism has manifested in a surge of civic engagement, with countless individuals risking their safety to defend their neighbors. It is evident that Trump’s disparaging remarks cannot alter this community-driven resistance.