Donald Trump’s Rhetoric and How Eugenics Frames His World

This chapter examines specific statements and quotes Donald Trump made as a presidential candidate and sitting president. These are contextualized and compared with language, phrases, and classic, influential writings by early twentieth-century eugenicists. The chapter discusses the difference between the rights of a citizen versus a subject and how many eugenic policies and Donald Trump’s positions make distinctions between the two groups. This chapter looks at Trump’s words regarding immigration, abortion policy, health, fitness, and religion, as well as other areas, comparing and pointing out similarities to early advocates of eugenics and others who bemoaned race suicide. The chapter also explores many slurs and derisive monikers Donald Trump attaches to other people. There is a clear delineation of how he addresses people negatively. Women of color receive intentional, personalized, targeted language, often assigning alliterative terms that dog whistle as well as demean. The chapter shows how Donald Trump’s language and rhetoric are not innovative but heavily draw upon others’ ideas to evoke strong connections to America’s eugenic past.