The stoking of fear and grievances was a hallmark of Mr. Trump’s rise, though its roots far predate him. A quarter-century earlier, Pat Buchanan fashioned himself as an “America first” candidate in his right-wing challenge to former President George Bush in 1992, a tagline that Mr. Trump would repurpose. Mr. Trump opened his 2016 presidential campaign by calling Mexican immigrants rapists and soon after he promoted a ban on Muslims entering the country. Mr. Trump no longer seems to be driving the conversation on the right so much as keeping up with it. He did not predict it would hamper Republicans in elections this year but said it would pose a challenge eventually.

Source: New York Times May 17, 2022 18:26 UTC