The White Supremacy Movement and its Largest Enabling Forces

Campbele Moon

              The topic of white supremacy is one very familiar to the United States’ political landscape. While those in charge of the movement have changed over time, one thing is undeniable: there is a growing platform for previously fringe ideologies to become mainstream through top politicians.

              White supremacy is defined as the belief that white people are superior to other races, and therefore should hold all social, economic, and political power. The idea comes from the conviction that whiteness is “correct” and the norm, while all other races and ethnicity are inferior. It is a systemic issue, one that needs correction through reform to prevent this unequal distribution of power.

              Recently, the rhetoric has shifted from white supremacy to “white nationalism” or “alt-right politics” to avoid appearing outright racist, with thousands of “White Lives Matter” protests occurring in 2021 as a response to the uproar after the murder of George Floyd by Minnesota law enforcement. These phrases still fall under the same umbrella, causing just as much harm as supremacy. The alt-right movement is primarily online, with strict allegiance from young white men. This group is comprised of individuals who rally against common “enemies” in immigrants searching for opportunities, women fighting for equality, political opponents, and initiatives to support diversity, equity and inclusion.

              This belief is represented in the very systems that allow our nation to function; it is seen on Capitol Hill by lobbyists, in our education systems, and in the workplace. Perhaps the largest area falling victim to this is the ongoing immigration restriction. The Stanford Law Review argued that the driving factor of the current administration’s immigration policy is white nationalism. In extreme cases, like the attempted eradication of Jewish, disabled, and homosexual people in Nazi Germany, this could lead to genocide or other lasting effects.

              The rise of conservative influencers in recent years has been key for this growth of white supremacist and nationalist beliefs in younger individuals. With activists like Charlie Kirk, Ben Shapiro, and Joe Rogan gaining massive support amongst young conservatives, some of the most extreme ideologies (eugenics, “great replacement”, and Christian nationalism) are now much more accessible. 

              This rapid rise in white supremacy values can also be accredited to those holding the highest offices in the nation. President Donald Trump and his closest allies are some of the largest enablers of these harmful ideals, refusing to denounce and even supporting them. In 2025, Trump has warned against “white genocide”, and in 2024, spread harmful stereotypes about Mexican migrants, Haitian immigrants, Asians, and Muslims. In 2017, he called those who marched in Charlottesville at the largest gathering of white supremacists, “very fine people”, despite claiming he is, “the least racist person”. When the man who has a cult-like influence over his supporters condones the idea of a superior race and posts violently racist content on his own Truth Social account, it can have catastrophic outcomes, akin to what we saw on January 6^th, 2021.

              This is seen in other spaces as well. The Georgetown College Republicans group recently faced scrutiny for anti-Islamic sentiments. On Capitol Hill, Republican lawmakers Andy Ogles (TN), Brandon Gill (TX), and Randy Fine (FL) have all put out anti-Muslim statements in recent weeks: “Muslims don’t belong in American society”, “No more Muslim [immigration] to America”, and “We need more Islamophobia”, respectively.  This rhetoric is immensely dangerous and needs to stop being spread by anyone, especially by those with immense political power in the United States.

              While these beliefs seem unimaginable by the rational population, many have been sucked into the idea of a master race. Our nation was built on the backs of individuals with diverse backgrounds, our culture composed of pieces from every corner of the world. The idea of a superior race is asinine in a country that would not exist without daring to be different.