- Question
- Will Donald Trump be re-elected?
- Position1 of 2›
- Yes, Donald Trump will be re-elected
As riots have swept the nation, Donald Trump's 2020 manifesto promises cracking down on left-wing extremism. This is reassuring for many of the electorate who fear the violence these groups have unleashed on the nation.
The argument
Supporters who predicted Donald Trump's re-election argued that, amid the unrest of 2020, he offered voters something they wanted: a candidate promising firm order against what they regarded as violent left-wing extremism. As protests in some cities gave way to rioting, looting and arson, Trump positioned himself squarely against antifa — a loose anti-fascist movement he and his supporters characterised as a domestic terrorist threat — pledging to designate it as such and to restore order with federal force where local authorities, in his framing, would not. To voters alarmed by scenes of disorder, this was a clear and reassuring stance. The argument held that this positioning would translate into electoral support. Many Americans, proponents contended, were unsettled by the instability of 2020 and by a perception that parts of the political left were tolerant of, or sympathetic to, the violence. Against a Democratic opponent they portrayed as slow to condemn the unrest and exposed to 'defund the police' sentiment within his coalition, Trump could present himself as the unambiguous candidate of law and order. For an anxious electorate, supporters argued, the promise of stability and a hard line against radical agitators would prove a powerful draw, particularly in suburban areas wary of disorder spreading. From this standpoint, the social instability that critics blamed partly on Trump was, electorally, an asset to him: it sharpened the contrast he wanted to draw and rallied voters seeking protection. Because Donald Trump offered a stand against what his supporters saw as domestic antifa terrorism at a moment of upheaval, this argument concluded, he would be re-elected.
Context
Following a surge in police brutality towards communities of color, ANTIFA has been rioting, sometimes violently. A strong stance against these acts of domestic terrorism is key to deter such atrocities. With tensions high, we need a law and order president.
Premises
Counter-arguments
- Trump condones white supremacy and white violence - Trump has racist tendencies
Rejecting the premises
Reject the premises that violence is bad. Violence is the fastest and most effective way to social change.
Framing
- Consequentialism - Violence bad - Policy change good