Continuing to Exploit Division for Political Gain – Distinguished Professor of Sociology at Cornell University, Mabel Berezin
"I have been considering whether Mr. Trump will act as he did during his first term, stirring societal divisions, or whether he will refrain from making deliberately inflammatory remarks. The answer remains unclear. Regarding the wildfires that broke out near Los Angeles in early January, the appropriate statement from him would have been, "As president, I will provide every possible support." Instead, Mr. Trump right away chose to harshly criticize California's governor. This may be a prelude to his second term, and it does not seem like a promising sign for the future.
Societal divisions arise due to underlying structural issues, but there are events that arise that can exacerbate polarization. Major incidents at the border or violent crimes committed by immigrants can fuel divisions, and Mr. Trump is likely to continue exploiting such events for political purposes.
The problem is that no one knows what might happen next. Surrounding Mr. Trump this time are intellectuals capable of giving form to his biases. Conservative think tanks have compiled policy proposals for the Trump administration under the "Project 2025" initiative, but how much of this will be implemented remains uncertain.
Reflecting on President Trump's first term, he gained control over much of the judiciary and appointed conservative judges to the Supreme Court. The courts are gradually leaning more in Mr. Trump's favor and that is disturbing. I am also concerned about the possibility that Mr. Trump's statements might once again incite extremist groups.
Mr. Trump and conservatives have also criticized efforts to ensure “diversity” and other such initiatives (DEI), and some companies and universities are beginning to review and reverse their policies. For Trump, taking actions in this area will be easy to do, and he will probably implement executive orders immediately."
