Are we witnessing the rise of the Alt-Right dictator? A critical look at Trump's nominees

 

President-elect Donald J. Trump

The announcement that Mr. Trump was considering Governor Haley for Secretary of State and Sen. Cuz for Attorney General was the biggest joke of the century. These individuals mentioned above do not represent the alternative right ideology that President-elect Trump intend to pursue during his presidency. It would have been unprecedented for Trump to consider his perceived adversaries for strategic position.

Anyone who has closely followed the rise of Trump will realize that he has a grandiose view of himself. The first partisan of the GOP is a vindictive, narcissistic figure who is distrustful of people who opposes him on critical issues or question his authority. As a student of psychology and a behavioral profiler, I am profoundly bothered by the manner in which Trump might govern. Given the number of far-right personalities President-elect Trump has picked for important positions, it is likely that the Republican standard bearer is expecting to execute his contentious campaign platform.

To successfully achieve his progressive policies without much opposition, Trump must recruit individuals with far-right mindsets. It is worth noting that people who subscribe to the alt-right ideology, belief that white is under attack by multicultural forces by using political correctness and social justice to threaten the white race. Apparently, it is not a surprise that Trump's team chose the likes of Sen. Jeff Session, Stephen Bannon, and Gen. Michael Flynn to head vital posts. These people do not only represent the far-right white nationalist doctrines, but they are also the embodiment of Trumpism.

Senator Jeff Sessions

Sen. Sessions has been a very close ally to Mr. Trump in the early stage of his campaign. Unlike Trump who others might view as a lose-talker, Sen. Sessions genuinely share many of Trump’s eccentric ideologies. Mr. Sessions opposed any pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and was an avid supporter of Mr. Trump's campaign promise to construct a wall on the border with Mexico.

In 1986, Mr. Sessions was chosen by former President Ronald Reagan for a federal judge position. Interestingly, he was rejected by a Republican Congress because of accusations that he had made racist statements. Former associates of Mr. Sessions testified that he had stated that, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, N.A.A.C.P, and other civil liberties organizations as “un-American” and “Communist-inspired.” Sen. Sessions colleagues also accused him of making remarks sympathetic to the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) hate group.

It is troubling to see an individual who supports bigotry and white supremacy ideas as an Attorney General of the United States. With a known bigot like Sessions as the chief law enforcement officer of the United States, civil liberties and groups that champion the cause of minority might face enormous scrutiny. Group like Black Lives Matter might be designated as a disruptive or hate group.

Lt-General Michael Flynn

On the other hand, retired Lt-Gen Michael Flynn Flynn had been a vocal critic of the Obama administration following his dismissal as director of the Defence Intelligence Agency in 2014. Lt-Gen. Flynn concurs with Mr. Trump on renegotiating the Iran nuclear agreement, strengthening ties with Russia, and escalating the fight against Islamic extremists. The far-right General stated that Islam is not a religion, but a political ideology.

Stephen K. Bannon

Meanwhile, Stephen K. Bannon, Trump's nominee for chief White House strategist and senior counselor, is the former chairman of the provocative right-wing Breitbart News website.  In case you have not heard of the Breitbart News Network, it is a far-right news, commentary, and opinion website. Breitbart News is known for peddling radical white supremacy agendas online. According to the Washington-post, some close associates of Mr. Bannon compared him with Nazi propagandist, Joseph Goebbels.  In January of 1996, Bannon was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery. His ex-wife also accused Bannon of making anti-semitic remarks.

The characters considered for employment in Trump's administration should be a cause of grave concern to all well-meaning Americans. Regardless of our political alliances, it behooves all Americans to speak up against a leader whose divisive policies might further divide us. Trump's nominees share the white nationalist doctrine that is un-American and does not represent America's values. Americans, be mindful of leaders who seek to sow hate and division among us.

Contributed by:
Hassan Fadiga
Staff-writer