100 DAYS IN TRUMP'S AMERICA WHITE NATIONALISTS AND THEIR AGENDA INFILTRATE THE MAINSTREAM a report by the southern poverty law center © 2017 ABOUT THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER The Southern Poverty Law Center, based in Montgomery, Alabama, is a nonpartisan 501(c) (3) civil rights organization founded in 1971 and dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry, and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society. For more information about THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER visit www.splcenter.org 2 100 days in trump's america CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5 THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TAKES SHAPE 7 100 DAYS REPORT PROFILES 9 THE CONSPIRACY THEORIST-IN-CHIEF: TRUMP AND THE MAINSTREAMING OF THE RADICAL RIGHT 14 100 DAYS OF TRUMP'S AMERICA: A TIMELINE 18 HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY 26 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 28 southern poverty law center 3 4 100 days in trump's america WHITE NATIONALISTS AND THEIR AGENDA INFILTRATE THE MAINSTREAM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY As he spoke to the nation on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump reminded white nationalists why they had invested so much hope in him as their champion and redeemer. He painted a bleak picture of America: a nation of crumbling, third-world infrastructure, “rusted-out factories,” leaky borders, inner cities wallowing in pov- erty, a depleted military and a feckless political class that prospered as the country fell into ruin. He promised an “America First” policy that would turn it all around. “This American carnage stops right here and stops right now,” Trump declared. The inaugural address echoed the themes of a campaign that had electrified the white nationalist – or “alt-right” – movement with its promise to stop all Muslim travelers at the border and deport millions of undocumented immigrants – killers and “rapists,” Trump called them. Four days after the inauguration, white nationalist leader Richard Spencer told a TV interviewer, “Trump is a white nationalist, so to speak. He is alt- right whether he likes it or not.” Despite his failure to achieve any major legislative victories, Trump has not disappointed his alt-right fol- lowers. His actions suggest that – unlike the economic populism of his campaign – Trump’s appeals to the radical right did indeed presage his White House agenda. On Jan. 31, former Klan leader David Duke tweeted: “everything I’ve been talking about for decades is coming true and the ideas I’ve fought for have won.” During the first 100 days of Trump’s presidency, he surrounded himself with extremist advisers and implemented policies designed to reverse civil rights gains from recent decades and push vulnerable communities even further toward the margins of society. In this report, the Southern Poverty Law Center examines: • The extremists who Trump has appointed as key now as president, Trump has given a giant megaphone advisers at the White House and leaders within the to the baseless conspiracy theories and fabrications of Administration who are devoted to rolling back civil the radical right. rights protections, decimating the social safety net and implementing a nationalist worldview. • Key moments during the first 100 days, including appointments of extremists who have flown under • How the Trump presidency is a triumph for the true the media’s radar; the promotion of conspiracy the- manufacturers of “fake news.” His presence in the ories; the ramping up of deportation efforts; and the White House is the end result of a decades-long proj- elimination of Obama-era efforts to reform the crim- ect by conservative politicians and media figures to inal justice system. delegitimize mainstream journalism and to herd a highly conservative segment of voters into an echo chamber of right-wing media. First as a candidate and southern poverty law center 5 6 100 days in trump's america THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TAKES SHAPE THE EXTREMIST ADVISERS In the hours after Donald Trump’s unexpected election bridge to Breitbart and a key player in helping defeat victory there was still talk that he might finally pivot away efforts to reform the immigration system. from the extreme rhetoric of his campaign. In his victory speech he declared "now it's time to bind the wounds of • Sebastian Gorka, a terrorism adviser who is associ- division … it is time come together as one united people.” ated with neo-Nazis in his native Hungary. Gorka has He pledged to be “a President for all Americans.” The been aligned with anti-Muslim extremist groups since substance and tone of the speech was a sharp contrast to immigrating to the United States in 2008. what Mr. Trump and his surrogates said on the campaign Bannon, in particular, embodied the hopes and dreams trail. Some thought that he may finally be moderating. of white nationalists with his blow-it-all-up style and But just 24 hours after that speech it became clear that apocalyptic worldview. He thrilled them with his hyper- President Trump would be a continuation of candidate nationalism, his firebrand attacks on “globalists” and Trump. As early as November 10 rumors began to swirl Republican “cucks,” and his stated desire to “deconstruct” that Stephen Bannon, who bragged about turning the “administrative state.” Breitbart News into “the platform for the alt-right,” would Trump brought into the White House two writers from be Trump’s chief of staff (ultimately he became a chief Bannon’s Breitbart: Gorka, as a deputy assistant, and Julia strategist). Racists immediately voiced their support, Hahn, as special assistant to the president. including David Duke who tweeted that “Steve Bannon is As chief of staff for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the one man Trump should keep around.” Trump appointed Julie Kirchner, who spent nearly Along with Bannon and an array of conservative a decade as executive director of the Federation for billionaires, Trump installed a handful of advisers who American Immigration Reform (FAIR). The group, which are closer to the radical right than to the mainstream. is included on the SPLC’s list of hate groups, has deep ties They include: to white nationalists and eugenicists. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hired Jon Feere, a legal Michael T. Flynn, • Retired Lt. Gen. a conspiracy theory analyst at the Center for Immigration Studies. The group peddler with close ties to Muslim-bashing extremists. is an offshoot of FAIR and also listed as a hate group by Named national security adviser, he was fired less the SPLC. than a month into office, ostensibly for lying to Vice Perhaps Trump’s most consequential appointment President Mike Pence about his conversations with the was Jeff Sessions as attorney general. Sessions, who was Russian ambassador. once denied a federal judgeship amid allegations of racism, • Stephen Miller, a former right hand to then-Sen. was the most powerful ally of anti-immigrant and anti- Jeff Sessions and a one-time acolyte of anti-Muslim Muslim extremist groups while serving as a U.S. senator extremist David Horowitz. From his previous perch in from Alabama. the Senate, the senior presidential adviser served as a THE WHITE NATIONALIST AGENDA Trump moved quickly to make good on his most actions of his agenda over the first 100 days: inflammatory promises, particularly those related to • Immigration. Trump signed executive orders instructing immigration, his core issue. Here are the major policy the Department of Homeland Security to hire 5,000 new southern poverty law center 7 Border Patrol agents; build detention facilities near the entering the United States. After the order was struck border; take steps to begin building a border wall; and down as unconstitutional, he tried again with a similar prioritize the deportation of undocumented immigrants order. It, too, was blocked in court. charged “with any criminal offense” or who “pose a risk to public safety or national security.” In addition, he ordered • Criminal justice. Sessions has signaled that he will abandon the withholding of federal funds from so-called “sanctuary the Justice Department’s work to rein in discriminatory cities” that refuse to use local police to enforce federal policing practices. He has ordered a review of Obama- immigration law – though the order was later blocked in era consent decrees intended to remedy systemic court. Implementing Trump’s orders, Homeland Security constitutional violations by police departments. And he Secretary John Kelly directed ICE to hire 10,000 new has suggested he will ramp up the drug war and oppose agents and gave the agency broad new discretion to arrest the bipartisan push to reform sentencing laws. In a memo, and deport immigrants, including parents who can now he reversed an Obama administration policy reducing the be accused of participating in “smuggling” or “trafficking” federal government’s use of prisons operated by private, if they bring their children into the country. The for-profit companies. administration began publishing a weekly list of crimes committed by immigrants; directed federal prosecutors • Other civil rights issues. Sessions dropped the Justice to bring more felony charges against detained immigrants; Department’s legal claim that Texas enacted its voter ID and announced it will hire 125 new immigration judges law with discriminatory intent. He dropped a lawsuit over the next two years. It also is reportedly considering against North Carolina over its bathroom law targeting curtailing safeguards intended to protect the rights and transgender people. Sessions and Education Secretary safety of detained immigrants. Betsy DeVos also rescinded federal guidelines protecting transgender students from discrimination. In addition, • Muslim ban. Trump signed an executive order indefinitely Trump rescinded President Obama’s Fair Pay and Safe suspending the entry of Syrian refugees and temporarily Workplaces order requiring federal contractors to barring citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries – demonstrate compliance with federal law prohibiting Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen – from discrimination against LGBT people.