It was reported over the weekend that the so-called “great replacement” or “white replacement” conspiracy theory was something the gunman believed. The false idea holds that Jews are intentionally trying to bring in more immigrants to eliminate white people.
Critics of Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) have claimed that their anti-immigration rhetoric has closely mirrored the racist conspiracy theory.
Speaking to MSNBC on Monday, former Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) explained that these ideas may have been part of the beliefs nested in the Republican Party for decades, but it wasn’t until Donald Trump said it out loud that others became fearless in doing the same. The “quiet part” went from innuendo in caucus meetings or among the GOP members to public speeches and Fox News interviews.
As conservative Headline News host SE Cupp explained Monday, “They’re not wearing hoods anymore.” According to a study published in Feb. 2022by the journal Nature Human Behavior, Trump’s presidency ushered in a new era of overt racism. A person who supports him is more likely to hold racist views, the surveys concluded.
“I want to say, Nicolle, I think that it is not fair to spend so much time talking about Elise Stefanik and Tucker Carlson and not mention Donald Trump,” said McCaskill. “Donald Trump said the ugly part out loud. There have always been racists in this country, and yes, my friend Michael Steele is right. There are Democrats that hate Black people and there are Republicans that hate Black people. No question about it, but the difference is that Donald Trump came down that escalator and he said the ugly part out loud.”