The Republican Party is becoming increasingly polarizing on issues of race and history under President Donald Trump’s leadership. Republican candidates for elected office have adopted hardline positions against racial justice and have defended symbols of the Confederacy. The party has positioned itself against the Black Lives Matter movement, and in 2018 Republicans in Congress rejected a resolution apologizing for slavery and Jim Crow laws. Trump has repeatedly attacked Democratic cities with large minority populations, often accusing them of having a poor quality of life. He has also leaned into false claims of fraudulent voting in attempts to substantiate the appearance of voter suppression in minority communities. Trump has pardoned white supremacists and praised Confederate monuments, further perpetuating racism and historic erasure. Despite criticism from the public, Republicans remain steadfast in their stance on racism and history, aligning heavily with Trump’s own rhetoric and policies.
