The 2024 election was, by all means, chaotic. Vice President Kamala Harris’ 107 day campaign fell short for the majority of voters, and those shortcomings will be studied for many years to come. President Trump’s victory can partially be attributed to the economic successes felt by citizens during his first term, yet there is another major factor in his campaign that reaches beyond policy. The most distinctive difference between the two parties, as exemplified in their 2024 campaigns, is one of rhetoric. While Harris advocated for the unification of United States citizens, Trump found success in provoking division.
The September debate between Harris and Trump, the only one after President Biden’s campaign-dooming performance, did little to sway undecided voters, yet solidified the primary differences between the two campaigns. Where Harris attempted to appeal to several demographics, from small business owners to recreational gun owners, Trump used misinformation to scare his voters. Statements from Trump such as, “they’re eating the dogs,” proved to reach far beyond comedic virality. Referring to Haitian immigrants in Ohio, Trump explicitly created a narrative in an “us vs. them” mentality. This rhetoric was nothing new for Trump, after referring to illegal immigration as the “greatest invasion in history” earlier in his campaign. While the debate framed Harris as a stronger, more stable, candidate, Trump’s rhetoric divided Americans against one another. La Jolla High senior and climate activist, Emma Weibel, noted that, “[MAGA rhetoric] results in a country that doesn’t live in harmony, but rather tension and disunity.”
Divisive conservative rhetoric worsened in the weeks following the debate, as an October Trump rally at New York City’s Madison Square Garden brought blatant xenophobia, misogyny, and racism to a national stage. A particularly controversial comedian, Tony Hinchcliffe, referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” By the time Trump took to the stage, Kamala Harris had been called the “antichrist.” The blatant vilification of American citizens was a constant throughout the rally, and was a defining feature of Trump’s campaign.
As Trump currently assembles his cabinet, the people of the United States will begin to see who belongs on either side of the “us vs them” narrative. Current nominees include Matt Gaetz for attorney general, Robert F. Kennedy Jr for secretary of health and human services, and Kristi Noem for secretary of homeland security, among other controversial picks. So far, his cabinet nominees consist entirely of MAGA loyalists, shaping one of the most extreme cabinets in United States history. With this in mind, it is clear that Trump prefers loyalty over representation.
