The effects of Trump politics in Irish society

In this July 17, 2019, photo, President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally at Williams Arena in Greenville, N.C. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

It’s sad and frustrating to see the influence of “Trump politics” in Irish society over the last few years.

Perhaps it is my imagination or misconception, but it seems to me, from comments on social media platforms online and protests like those going on in East Wall in Dublin concerning the use of a disused ESB building to house refugees, that people are far more willing and emboldened to engage in protests and make comments that would have been less likely prior to Trump.

Trump’s politics, his outlook, speeches, lies, willingness to make public utterances that are racist, xenophobic, misogynistic, and his casual indifference to making the world a worse place with greater divisions between people have all contributed to the vile, disgusting comments that are readily consumable nowadays online.

His politics have also allowed the far right, fringe, conspiracy theory views surface with greater liberality in protests, WhatsApp groups, Facebook groups, Telegram and in society generally.

It is going to take a while to roll back the effects of the bile and poison spread by one powerful figurehead over a period of three or four years.