President Trump is in a league of his own, with his latest style of divisive rhetoric and insults. Emboldened by his inflammatory language, some of his supporters now feel free to air their grievances against those they disagree with using vulgarities, insults, and baseless attacks. This behavior, which has been seen on both sides of the political aisle, has become increasingly destructive and damaging to political discourse and the democratic process.
In recent months the president has drawn attention to himself for his controversial statements, referring to certain groups as “animals” or “bad people”. His latest Twitter tirades have incited his followers to use the same tactics against anyone who disagrees with them. This toxic form of communication has proven to have disastrous consequences for those targeted.
The language used by Trump’s supports does not always accurately articulate their feelings. Instead, they turn to character assassination and personal insult initiate to offend their opponents. Often times, these words are uncivil, mean-spirited, and often false. This kind of abrasive behavior only serves to further alienate those who oppose Trump’s politics, stirring up a dangerous level of tribalism in our nation.
No matter one’s party affiliation, nobody should be subjected to this kind of degrading and divisive language. Responsible and respectful conversations about politics should be encouraged, not discouraged. We should be having honest and productive debates on our issues that may be contentious, but still remain respectful.
It is clear that President Trump’s divisive rhetoric has emboldened some of his supporters to use offensive language, which is detrimental to our society. The President should lead by example and set a better standard for his followers. He should take responsibility for normalizing this kind of behavior and work to promote an atmosphere of decency and civility. In that way, we can truly be an example to the world of how citizens from different viewpoints can come together and coexist peacefully.