I find it absurd that we are still trying to categorize Trump into “ists” and “isms”. Nevertheless, whether or not Mr. Trump can be classified as a populist is still a topic worth discussing. For the sake of this response, it is important to make a distinction between left-wing and right-wing populism with respect to populism as a whole. In general, populism is based on anti-elite sentiments—it is the result of the frustration of working class transformed into a political movement. Populists want progressive, revolutionary change, typically by democratic means. Otherwise, populism varies greatly between the left and right. Right-wing populism often favors smaller groups and inequality. The conservative attitudes of the right cause populism to manifest itself as more of a nationalist/nativist ideology. …show more content…
There is no denying that Trump found his way into the Oval Office by amassing the support of millions of Americans through his crude and controversial remarks. His unconventional campaign resonated among citizens by advertising grand plans for America’s growth, all of this aided by an unfiltered mouth and millions of dollars in his pockets. We can call all of this something akin to a populist agenda, but the degree to which Donald Trump can be considered a populist extends only as far as his campaign. It has been a little over a year since Trump’s inauguration, and I find it hard to believe that his actions thus far constitute those of a populist, contrary to what your interview with Jan-Werner Mueller