Trump exploits angst within segments of society: Pundit

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump uses the angst of segments of the American society who see their standard of living falling to fuel his campaign, says Professor Dennis Etler, who has a decades-long interest in politics.

Etler, a professor of Anthropology at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California, told Press TV on Sunday that there is genuine disgust among many segments of the US population regarding the candidacy of Trump, but Hillary Clinton is disingenuous in criticizing the billionaire for his antics.

Speaking in St. Louis on Saturday, Democratic presidential frontrunner and former Secretary of State Clinton accused her Republican rival of inciting violence with "ugly, divisive rhetoric."

"The ugly, divisive rhetoric we are hearing from Donald Trump and the encouragement of violence and aggression is wrong, and it's dangerous," Clinton said. "If you play with matches, you're going to start a fire you can't control. That's not leadership. That's political arson."

Clinton made the remarks a day after a large number of protesters -- many of them African Americans and Latinos angered by Trump's anti-immigrant stance -- clashed with Trump's supporters in Chicago, Illinois, forcing the billionaire to cancel a rally there.

The cancellation, which came amid large demonstrations both inside and outside the event at the University of Illinois in Chicago, follows heightened concerns about violence in general at Trump’s rallies across the United States.

Trump, who has never held elected office, is leading the race despite the fact that his campaign has been marked by controversial statements, including disparaging remarks about Mexican immigrants and Muslims.

“There is genuine disgust and fear among many segments of the US population, especially college-aged youth, blacks, Hispanics, Muslims and progressive-minded people, regarding the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump, who many see as a dangerous demagogue who incites hatred against marginalized people such as undocumented workers from Mexico, and Muslims traveling to the US,” Professor Etler said.

“Trump's rhetoric is inflammatory and divisive. He taunts and ridicules those who disagree with him or question his proposals. He also targets other countries such as China and Iran as enemies of the US who have to be taught a lesson,” he added.  

What are Trump’s true intentions?

Professor Etler said Trump “refuses to go into any detail about his foreign policy, leading people to speculate as to what his true intentions are. For instance, he states that China's stance on the South China Sea ‘is a problem’ and that ‘we have a lot of power over China, we just don't know it.’ What then would his policy be regarding the South China Sea? Would he be even more belligerent than Obama? One can only guess.”

“As regards the Iran nuclear negotiations, he has said it was the worst deal in history. So what will he do if elected? Again, it's anyone’s guess. While he praises Russian actions in Syria against ISIL and likes Putin's strong leadership style, his support is more apparent than real,” he stated.

“He is also a firm supporter of Israel, no matter his vow to seek a settlement of the Palestinian issue as a neutral party. He is anything but that and stands behind Israel 100 percent. A more thorough going Zionist cannot be found,” the analyst pointed out.  

Why Trump sends mixed messages

“Trump excels at sending out mixed messages which tends to confuse some naive anti-imperialists who think he will somehow dismantle the US Empire and retreat from seeking hegemony. In fact, he wants to increase US military strength and force US proxies to share more of the burden of Empire. That is not a prescription for the end of Empire but for even more aggressive policies,” Professor Etler said.

“Domestically Trump's policies are also hard to gauge. He has come out with lots of bombastic rhetoric to whip up his crowds. His statements on Mexican immigrants and Muslims are red meat for his nativist supporters,” he said.

“But as to what his policies towards key domestic issues will actually be is nearly impossible to tell because of his vagueness. All we know is that he mocks the EPA and other regulatory agencies and the fact that he considers establishment politicians of both parties to be venal and corrupt. Many Republicans see him as a big-government Democrat in disguise. He is running as a populist demagogue, a con-man and manipulator who knows how to appeal to people's desperation.”

Trump fanning flames of animosity

Professor Etler said “Trump's demagoguery has led to a backlash by those whom he seeks to stigmatize. But Trump uses demonstrations against him to fan the flames of animosity that he has already kindled. He has used them to discredit his opposition, in the case of the recent Chicago melee primarily Bernie Sanders, and further agitate his supporters.”

“It is not beyond the realm of possibility that these incidents are the works of agents provocateurs. For instance, recent reports link moveon.com the brainchild of Hillary supporter billionaire George Soros to the Chicago protests,” he added.

“Unlike the Republican's neocons and Democrat's neolibs, neither Trump nor his followers are in the grip of any kind of world-transforming ideology. His inflamed rhetoric and nonchalant, flippant attitude are trademarks he developed as a reality TV star and give his campaign the air of proto-fascism. He uses the angst of segments of the American people, who see their standard of living and social status falling, to fuel his campaign,” he observed.  

“In order to exploit their discontent and feelings of alienation, Trump uses scapegoats, both domestic and foreign, to turn their attention away from the crisis of capitalism, the actual cause of their distress, that has engulfed the Western world,” the academic noted.  

Clinton disingenuous in criticizing Trump

Professor Etler said “Hillary Clinton is disingenuous in criticizing Trump for his antics. The neo-liberal policies she has promoted both at home and abroad have created many of the problems the US and the West now face, allowing Trump to portray himself as some sort of savior.”

“In fact, he represents a more militant and obstreperous wing of US imperialism that doesn't have any pretense about playing by the rules but wants to impose US oligarchic domination, both at home and abroad, by outright intimidation and bullying,” he concluded.

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