Principal instigator of conservatism, ex-President Donald Trump, continues to exert influence by using fear as his key weapon. He has recently escalated his messaging and is forecasting immense worldwide tragedies, including World War III. Speaking at his rally in Wisconsin on a recent Saturday, Trump asserted a chilling view of immigration, stating that immigrants would stroll into your house and harm you. He took a moment to acknowledge, “This is indeed a bleak address.”
Trump’s distinct style during his gatherings involves discursive shifts from one issue to another – everything from trade impositions to immigration policies and the issues surrounding electric vehicles. However, a recurring theme in his addresses tends to be a pessimistic vision of the future. “Our nation stands on the brink of nonexistence,” he averred at one of his gatherings in Las Vegas. “You’re nearing the end. It’s crucial that I return to power.”
In the past year, this prophetic tone has been a constancy in Not only his public speeches but also his interviews and social media posts. He seems fervent in his belief that if his fight against Vice-president Kamala Harris for presidency results in a loss, the American dream will meet its demise. He paints a grim picture of World War III inciting a nuclear disaster, the cease of existence for America and Israel, the onslaught of violent immigrant gangs on cities and towns all over the country, factories closing down, farmers losing their livelihoods, and the country enduring an economic downfall.
At the Wisconsin address, Trump issued harsh comments about immigrants and the alleged threat they pose. He made his audience laugh by briefly pausing his ominous speech and bringing in an element of humor, “Isn’t this speech uplifting and encouraging?” He said with sarcasm, causing chuckles in the crowd. “Some of you in the front row seem distraught. You expected something more cheerful. ‘Make America great again,’ yes, we’re getting to that. But this is indeed a dark speech.”
Looking back to his 2016 campaign, it was evident that tensions around immigration were high, with Mexican immigrants being referred to as “felons” and “offenders.” Similar tactics were employed during his 2020 campaign, with an increased focus on provoking alarm around urban crime, attempting to win over white suburban voters.
In his current campaign for Presidency, Trump continues to amplify his ominous outlook, extending it across the globe.
Alluding to global chaos, he insists in most of his speeches that America is one step away from a worldwide confrontation that only he can avert. Trump falsely maintains that his reign was a peaceful era on the global stage, arguing that Democratic rule would only exacerbate international tensions, particularly in Ukraine and Gaza.
He further purports a potential catastrophe if he fails to win in the upcoming election stating, “We’re headed towards World War III,” during his Las Vegas rally. “A nuclear holocaust awaits us if we aren’t careful. They are oblivious to it.”
Trump’s most grim predictions are reserved for immigration-related discussions. Several rallies this year have seen him make strategic choices regarding immigration, attributing his softened stance on the issue as a possible reason for his defeat in the 2020 election. He recalls his 2016 win being potentially linked to his hard stance on immigration, stating, ‘Perhaps it was the border that secured my victory in 2016.’ During the 2020 election, however, he downplayed the border issue presumably due to advice suggesting it was a time sink.
While campaigning, Trump capitalizes on the influx of undocumented immigrants during President Biden’s tenure. Although the numbers have significantly decreased in recent months, he continues to picture immigrants as hostile forces intending to annihilate America. His depiction of a migrant crime wave often manipulates facts or statistics.
Ignoring significant numbers of migrant families and children, Trump categorizes border crossers as violent offenders or mentally unstable. He continually likens undocumented immigrants to Hannibal Lecter, the fictional antagonist in ‘The Silence of the Lambs,’ claiming, unfoundedly, that foreign nations strategically empty their prisons and mental institutions to offload their populations onto the U.S.
Recently, Trump impressed upon Jewish voters that if he does not win in November, Israel would face eradication within two years. He urged the audience, referring specifically to a rabbi present, to mobilize for votes, implying the survival of Israel depends on it.
Trump demonstrates the ability to customize his dark narrative according to the audience. In a farmer-centric meeting in rural Pennsylvania, he warned that Harris’ victory would lead to skyrocketing energy costs impact farming severely, and hinting they may even lose their lands.
Sometimes, Trump moves away from discussing the future to provide an alternate reality of the present. During a visit to a manufacturing plant in North Carolina, Trump defended his earlier trade protectionism policies by asserting their role in averting a massive economic collapse. As per Trump, the plant, which would have been closed and empty, is now thriving due to his policies.