Larry Donnelly, an academic from the University of Galway but born in Boston, has declared that the Democratic Party in the U.S. is losing its connection with the blue-collar white community, attributing this to the party’s endorsement of international trade and progressive politics. This has led to a shift in support towards Donald Trump, according to Donnelly.
In the Patrick MacGill Summer School in Donegal, Ireland, he recollected the words of his late father: Previously, the Democratic Party represented the common people, those who labor manually and live from one paycheck to another. Currently, however, his father found it difficult to relate with or agree with most Democrats, describing them as “extreme left-wingers”.
Donnelly also highlighted Trump’s success in embracing Pat Buchanan’s 1992 stance that Republicans should extend their appeal to “heartland conservatives” who uphold traditional values and disapprove of America’s transformations.
Donnelly noted, despite Trump’s failure to meet the needs of the working class, there’s a significant shift of the white working-class demographic towards the Republican Party. This party is also making significant strides within rapidly expanding voter communities in the U.S., such as Latinos, and unexpectedly, with Asian Americans and black males.
According to Donnelly, the Republican party continues to receive unwavering support from affluent Americans due to favorable tax laws and from the religious community including devout Christians and Catholics as a result of their conservative cultural viewpoint, particularly on issues like abortion. He made this comment during the summer school event.
Even with Trump never delivering for the working class, his appeal is ironically robust. His achievements primarily benefit the wealthiest in society and social conservatives, Donnelly added, a point he discussed at the Glenties summer school’s concluding session.
Donnelly highlighted that Donald Trump’s ongoing appeal rests in how he communicates directly to the working class, a tactic that drew both ridicule and laughter when figures such as Hulk Hogan, a well-known cultural figure in the U.S., repeated it.
Mr Donnelly shared an observation of the resonating connection Trump made with considerable number of Americans who felt alienated by conventional politicians. He empathetically communicated with his supporters, despite making limited actual progress. Using the metaphor of him tearing his jersey and announcing the arrival of Trumpamaniacs, Mr Donnelly expressed this phenomenon.
On the other hand, the Democrats, particularly under leaders like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, have surprisingly prospered, largely due to their unique charisma and the chaos ensuing from Trump’s first presidency. The party’s endorsement of the North American Free Trade Agreement in the 90s was seen as a significant breach of trust by many labour unions, and their stance on societal issues deeply disagreed with a large part of the American population.
Mr Donnelly further estimated that in 2028, the Democrats could benefit from this situation again, largely thanks to their array of capable politicians like Michigan’s governor Gretchen Whitmer and California’s governor Gavin Newsom.
Former US correspondent for RTÉ, Carole Coleman emphasized the crucial role the evangelical movement played in Mr Trump’s and the Republican Party’s rhetoric, providing a sense of unity for its members. According to her, the Church offers not only spiritual redemption but also social community, protection, and unity against a shared adversary.