Ninety years ago, Adolf Hitler, then Germany’s chancellor, enacted race laws that targeted racial minorities he felt were inferior to the master white race. Hitler and his cronies spouted racist ideas that they subsequently translated into public policy. The German government’s role in promoting racism made me wonder what the United States would look like if racists ruled here. I don’t imagine there would be a “final solution” that led to the Holocaust, but there could be less drastic but still tragic results. Here is what I imagined would happen:
First, whites would appoint other whites to top governmental positions, such as the White House staff, the Cabinet and other political appointees. If minorities were appointed, it would be only token representation to suggest those in charge were not really racists. Also, promotions in the military would favor whites over Blacks.
In the area of immigration, enforcement agents would pursue and deport non-whites who were undocumented, largely ignoring whites who might be in the country illegally. And those deportations would occur as quickly as possible to avoid any judicial intervention that might stop them. These agents also would harass even non-whites who were citizens, assuming by their skin color or their language that they were not U.S. citizens. And the Supreme Court would sanction such behavior.
Those non-whites who were legal residents also would be targeted for deportation. Their legal visas would be withdrawn if they were from nations where the populations were predominantly Black, Middle Eastern or Hispanic such as Haiti, Afghanistan, Venezuela and Cuba. Even those who served the U.S. military in their home countries before immigrating to the U.S. would be deported. At the same time, white immigrants would be encouraged to migrate to the U.S. and their applications would be given priority.
Another policy would be the elimination of government programs that assist racial and ethnic minorities who have been subject to historical discrimination. As well, even recognition of the historic accomplishments of minority individuals, such as the Tuskegee airmen, would be removed. Museum narratives that educate visitors on slavery and discriminatory social, political and legal practices would be altered to downplay the role of these practices in the nation’s past.
At the same time, these racist government leaders would claim they are only creating a race-neutral society. They would assert none of these acts were racist. Rather, they were simply ending wasteful, divisive programs.
Obviously, none of this is imaginary. It is occurring right now because, as I see it, this is the policy approach of the Trump administration since January 2025. In his first term, the Trump administration pursued racist actions. But the extent of the racist policies instituted by this administration in his second term is staggering. In addition, the president has posted racist themes on social media that further reveal his racism. It is hard not to conclude that Donald Trump is the most racist president since Andrew Johnson, who opposed the 14th and 15th amendments guaranteeing citizenship and voting rights to former slaves. Moreover, I believe Trump has surrounded himself with people who appear to share his racism as well or, at best, are unwilling to stand up to it.
Over the past several decades, we have been moving, at times fitfully, toward a multi-racial, diverse society that values each individual’s contribution regardless of race or ethnicity. Before Trump became president, we were not there yet. Hence, the need for programs to make that society a reality. But Trump has set the nation back to a time when white Americans ignored the effects of racial discrimination and government-sanctioned racial discrimination was routine.
Midterm elections are coming. When voting, Floridians should consider whether the person they are voting for is enabling Donald Trump and his administration’s racism by supporting his racist policies. Voters will be choosing between a continuation of these racist policies or the election of representatives who will stand against them.
Richard Davis, who lives in DeLand, is a professor emeritus of political science at BYU.