By Matt Underwood If MAGA doesn’t want to be labeled racist, it should stop elevating racists. This is the core issue, isn’t it? The very foundation of the problem lies in the fact that MAGA seems to have a deep-seated issue with being *called* racist, rather than with the actual behavior itself. The sentiments expressed often boil down to a simple, yet stark, reality: they don’t mind the ideology, just the label. This is a crucial distinction. It speaks volumes about the priorities and motivations at play.
If MAGA really doesn’t want the racist label, then the solution is straightforward, although seemingly impossible for them. They need to distance themselves from the individuals, the rhetoric, and the actions that perpetuate racist ideologies. They should begin with a strong, unambiguous condemnation of racism in all its forms, and they should start actively removing the people and ideas that are associated with racism. It’s a fundamental step that they consistently fail to take.
MAGA’s desire to return to a romanticized past, a time before civil rights, before social progress, should be recognized for what it is. This is not just nostalgia for a simpler time; it’s a yearning for a period when certain groups held a clear social dominance over others. Celebrating Columbus Day while downplaying Indigenous Peoples Day perfectly encapsulates this desire. It’s a refusal to acknowledge the complexities of history and the injustices that have occurred, and it is a blatant example of the core issue.
It’s often observed that MAGA seems to want to be racist, or at least harbor a deep-seated affection for the principles of racism. They love Trump because he validates their beliefs. When pressed, they sometimes deflect, claiming that minorities are the “real” racists. This kind of rhetoric is a common tactic to muddy the waters and avoid self-reflection, yet it is obviously ineffective.
Many individuals in the group seem to embrace the label, or at least, they don’t react with the disgust one might expect. They seem less bothered by the accusation and more annoyed that they are being called out. The fact that the mask has long since fallen off, the reality that a high-profile advisor could perform Nazi salutes without consequence, speaks volumes about the values of the group.
The core of the problem, and a constant thread, is the fact that MAGA seems to prioritize image over substance. They want to be able to espouse racist ideas without facing the consequences of the label. This extends to a refusal to acknowledge the harm caused by their words and actions, coupled with the desire to continue those actions. They refuse to give up their shitty behavior, and then complain about being called out for it. It’s truly astounding.
This problem is not isolated, either. MAGA also has a problem with sexism, homophobia, and a general disdain for those less fortunate than themselves. They have embraced a racist agenda, and they do it openly. They vote in people who want to push for a racist agenda, from gerrymandering to targeting immigrants based solely on their skin color. They are, in effect, embracing the tools of discrimination.
It seems to come down to three kinds of people who make up the group: the fascists, the allies of fascists, and the people too stupid to realize they are part of the first two groups. It’s hard to tell if MAGA still cares about being called racists. They certainly seem to be leaning into it pretty hard these days. The goal of the MAGA movement is to be racist, and it is achieving it’s goals.
The truth is, it’s not just racism. It’s a whole host of hateful ideologies: bigotry, xenophobia, chauvinism, fascism, Nazism, neo-Nazism, racialism, discrimination, prejudice, intolerance. This is the trash being dumped in the new dumpsters. MAGA is a new name for the same old hate.
Finally, it needs to be made clear: not all of MAGA are racist. However, it is an inescapable truth that all of the racists just happen to be MAGA. The movement’s continued elevation of racist figures, its embrace of racist rhetoric, and its resistance to any form of self-reflection on the issue all combine to paint a clear picture. If MAGA wants to escape the label, it knows what it needs to do.