The New Yorker::

A new book traces the intellectual origins of Trumpism—straight into the void.

By Joshua Rothman

In 2018, at a rally in Houston, Donald Trump articulated a distinction that was becoming central to the American right. “A globalist is a person that wants the globe to do well,” Trump said. This involved “not caring about the country so much.” By contrast, he was “a nationalist.” “Really, we’re not supposed to use that word,” Trump went on. “You know what I am? I’m a nationalist, O.K.? I’m a nationalist. Nationalist! Nothing wrong. Use that word. Use that word!” The delighted crowd began chanting, “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!”

Trump’s use of “nationalist” was perplexing to many people. CNN, in its coverage of the speech, connected it to “the protectionist trade policies he has implemented in an effort to boost domestic manufacturing.” This was reasonable—much of Trump’s speech had centered on his “America First” economic agenda—and yet the idea of being a nationalist was clearly bigger than that. Trump’s nationalism was partly about pride: “For years, you watched as your leaders apologized for America,” he told the audience, and “now you have a President who is standing up for America.” It also involved a generally pugilistic attitude. He wanted to throw America’s weight around. Possibly, he was associating himself with the ambitious, violent nationalisms of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

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