US President Donald Trump is the “insidious inspiration guiding the hand that pulled the trigger of the guns used to commit the mass slaying of Muslims in New Zealand,” according to Dennis Etler, an American political analyst who has a decades-long interest in international affairs.
Trump has said he doesn’t view white extremism as a rising threat even though many blame the terrorist massacre in New Zealand on Friday on his demonization of Muslims.
“I don’t really. I think it’s a small group of people that have very, very serious problems,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if he thought white nationalism is a growing global threat.
At least one gunman killed 49 people during Friday prayers in New Zealand’s worst ever mass shooting.
The Australian terrorist, identified as Brenton Tarrant, broadcast live footage on Facebook of the attack on one mosque in the city of Christchurch, after publishing a “manifesto” in which he called Muslim immigrants as “invaders.”
Tarrant’s manifesto posted online praised Trump as “a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose.”
‘Trump’s comments are irredeemable’
In an interview with Press TV on Monday, Etler, a former professor of Anthropology at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California, said, “Trump’s comments are irredeemable. It’s equivalent to the Nazis saying that their racist nationalism, demagogic rhetoric and invective against Jews, Romanies and other targeted people had nothing to do with attacks against them.”
“From the very beginning of his political campaign to capture the Republican nomination for US president, Donald Trump has used blatant racism and Islamophobic rhetoric to ginny up his partisan crowds to a fever pitch, chanting USA! USA! Flaunting MAGA (Make America Great Again) caps, he has inveighed against immigrants, especially Muslims and Mexicans, characterizing them as terrorists, rapists, murderers and drug runners. They are the source of the problems that beset the middle American base that Trump cultivates. Under-employment, crime, drug use are all attributed to immigrants, letting the real culprits such as the corporate cronyism that Trump exemplifies off the hook,” he stated.
“Trump’s reckless rhetoric is not just made during the passion of the moment but is premeditated with the design in mind to exacerbate fear and loathing among his followers. Not only that, Trump during his rallies would edge on the crowd to commit violence towards any who opposed him. He knows very well how to do that having cut his entertainment teeth appearing in the ring of the Worldwide Wresting Federation and on ‘shock jock’ radio broadcasts. Trump’s associates include tabloid media moguls, madams and assorted mafia figures. He is thus well-versed in manipulating crowds and instigating violence,” the analyst said.
“Not only that. His senior advisers include many who have ties to the so-called ‘alt-right’ a menagery of ultra-rightists, fascists and neo-Nazi white nationalists, who look upon Trump as their Furhrer. Trump disingenuously pleads ignorance of their existence and disavows their support with a wink and a nod. There should no doubt in any rational person’s mind however that Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America is the insidious inspiration guiding the hand that pulled the trigger of the guns used to commit the mass slaying of Muslims in New Zealand that have recently shocked the world,” the commentator concluded.