President Donald Trump's actions over his first three weeks in office are increasing the risks of violence and inflaming racial tensions.
It began almost immediately, as Trump granted clemency to nearly 1,600 people who had been convicted of criminal activity related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Experts warned that would lead to an increased risk of political violence.
His other actions also risk turbocharging racism in local communities and helping mobilize violent white supremacists nationwide.
Trump and his staffers are undermining the social norms against racism. Darren Beattie, who was appointed as acting under secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs in the State Department, tweeted last year that "competent white men must be in charge if you want things to work" and that Black lawmakers and policymakers need to "learn" their place.
After a Department of Government Efficiency staffer resigned when he was linked to racist social media posts, including one that said "I was racist before it was cool" and another that said "Normalize Indian hate," Vice President JD Vance defended the staffer and said he should be rehired.
Read Cynthia Miller-Idriss' full article here.
