Racist remarks at Donald Trump’s October 27 Madison Square Garden rally have galvanized public attention on hate speech in the former president’s campaign.
But the expression of racist views by those close to Trump is not new. During Trump’s presidency, at least a dozen officials and advisers with ties to white supremacist groups or ideologies held appointments in his administration. Some of these figures have promoted the racial superiority of white people, helped shape national policy and remain close to Trump, raising the prospect of them joining his administration if he is elected to a second term.
Stephen Miller, who spoke at the Oct. 27 rally, was one of Trump’s most influential team members, serving as senior advisor for policy and White House director of speechwriting. Leaked emails show that Miller shared content from white nationalist websites and promoted ideas central to racist and nativist ideologies. These include the concept of “white genocide” and support for policies aimed at restricting immigration from non-white-majority countries. Miller’s influence on policies like the Muslim travel ban and family separation at the border is often seen as an extension of these views.
