There’s a reason the American Right pursues a politics of moral panic. While the irrational and conspiratorial beliefs that accompany this fear-mongering are false, that’s a feature rather than a bug of an authoritarian movement with a primary goal of dominance, power, and control. As it turns out, moral panic – making vulnerable groups the target of people’s fears through lies and stereotypes while rallying around the notion of, say, “protecting the children” – can be a powerful means of reaching that goal.
As the 2024 electoral rematch between Joe Biden and former president/indicted insurrectionist Donald Trump approaches, Republicans are increasingly focused on scapegoating migrants and undocumented immigrants, which endangers not only immigrants (documented or otherwise), but also anyone perceived to “look like” an immigrant.
Of course, Trump has long used racist rhetoric to dehumanise migrants. But at a rally in Ohio on Sunday he escalated his anti-immigrant rhetoric, stating: “In some cases, they’re not people, in my opinion.” He also threatened a “bloodbath” if he loses in 2024 and referred to people imprisoned for their roles in the 6 January insurrection as “hostages.”
