How White Americans Have Historically Supported Racist Politicians
Throughout American history, the political landscape has been shaped by a troubling pattern: the empowerment and elevation of racist leaders who perpetuated systems of oppression. From the nation’s founding to modern times, white Americans have often rallied behind politicians whose policies and ideologies upheld slavery, segregation, Jim Crow laws, and systemic racism. This legacy is deeply intertwined with the country’s institutions, as many presidents, governors, and lawmakers built their careers on platforms rooted in white supremacy—platforms that were enthusiastically supported by large segments of the white population.
Slave-Owning Presidents: The Foundation of Institutional Racism
It is impossible to discuss America’s historical ties to racism without acknowledging the role of its early leaders. Twelve U.S. presidents owned enslaved people, including some of the most revered figures in American history. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Andrew Jackson are just a few examples of men who championed liberty and democracy while simultaneously enslaving hundreds of Black individuals. Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and one of the nation’s Founding Fathers, owned over 600 enslaved people during his lifetime. Despite penning the famous words “all men are created equal,” Jefferson viewed Black people as inherently inferior and advocated for their removal from the United States through colonization schemes. His hypocrisy extended even further into his personal life; he fathered several children with Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman he owned. These children lived as slaves under his watchful eye, deprived of freedom despite sharing his bloodline. Jefferson never granted them emancipation, nor did he publicly acknowledge their existence until forced to do so years later.
Jefferson’s behavior exemplifies the moral bankruptcy of those who claimed to champion freedom while actively participating in—and benefiting from—the brutal institution of slavery. Yet, rather than being condemned, Jefferson remains celebrated as a national hero, underscoring how deeply embedded racist ideals were (and still are) in American society.
Similarly, Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina provides another example of the pervasive immorality among white politicians. Thurmond, a staunch segregationist who once filibustered civil rights legislation for over 24 hours, fathered a child out of wedlock with a Black maid named Carrie Butler when she was just 16 years old. While Thurmond publicly opposed racial equality throughout much of his career, he privately provided financial support for his daughter, Essie Mae Washington-Williams—but only after ensuring that her existence remained hidden from public view. Thurmond’s duplicity mirrors the broader hypocrisy of white America: outwardly supporting racist policies while engaging in exploitative relationships behind closed doors. These stories reveal not only the personal failings of these men but also the complicity of the white communities that elevated them to positions of power. Their immoral actions were tolerated—or outright ignored—because they aligned with the prevailing attitudes of white supremacy.
Post-Civil War Era: The Rise of Segregationist Leaders
After the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, white Americans continued to empower politicians who sought to maintain racial hierarchies. Reconstruction saw brief progress toward racial equality, but this period was short-lived due to violent backlash from white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan and complicit politicians. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Southern governors and legislators enacted Jim Crow laws designed to disenfranchise Black citizens and enforce racial segregation. Figures such as Benjamin Tillman of South Carolina and James Vardaman of Mississippi openly espoused racist ideologies while enjoying significant support from white constituents. Tillman once declared, “We of the South have never recognized the right of the Negro to govern white men,” reflecting the prevailing attitudes of the time.
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president, provides another glaring example of how white Americans empowered racist leadership. Wilson segregated federal offices, screened the pro-KKK film The Birth of a Nation at the White House, and praised it as “writing history with lightning.” His presidency marked a regression in civil rights, yet he remains honored in numerous ways, including having Princeton University’s prestigious School of Public and International Affairs named after him (until 2020).
Mid-20th Century: Resistance to Civil Rights
Even as the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum in the mid-20th century, many white Americans continued to support politicians who opposed desegregation and equal rights. Governors like George Wallace of Alabama and Orval Faubus of Arkansas became national symbols of resistance to integration. Wallace famously declared in his 1963 inaugural address, “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever,” drawing cheers from white crowds.
Wallace ran for president multiple times on explicitly segregationist platforms, leveraging coded language about “states’ rights” to appeal to white voters across the country. Similarly, Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina led the Dixiecrat Party in 1948, campaigning against civil rights reforms. Thurmond later switched to the Republican Party and enjoyed a long career in the Senate, consistently opposing measures aimed at advancing racial equality. The success of these politicians underscores the enduring appeal of racist rhetoric among certain segments of the white electorate. Even as overt expressions of racism became socially unacceptable, dog-whistle politics allowed candidates to signal allegiance to white supremacy without explicitly stating it.
Modern Times: The MAGA Movement and Donald Trump
The election of Donald Trump in 2016 should come as no surprise given the historical precedent set by white Americans repeatedly empowering morally bankrupt politicians. Trump’s rise to power represents the latest iteration of a familiar pattern: white voters rallying behind a leader whose rhetoric and policies cater to their fears and prejudices, regardless of the ethical implications.
Trump’s campaign relied heavily on racially charged language, from calling Mexican immigrants “rapists” and “criminals” to questioning the legitimacy of the first Black president’s citizenship. He infamously referred to Haiti and African nations as “shithole countries,” further exposing his disdain for non-white populations. Despite these blatant displays of racism—or perhaps because of them—Trump garnered overwhelming support from white Americans, particularly those in rural and working-class communities.
His presidency was defined by policies targeting marginalized groups, including Muslim bans, family separations at the border, and efforts to roll back protections for LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color. When confronted with white supremacist violence, such as the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Trump responded equivocally, stating there were “very fine people on both sides.” Such statements emboldened far-right extremists and signaled tacit approval of their hateful ideologies.
The Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement encapsulates this dynamic perfectly. At its core, MAGA appeals to a nostalgic vision of America that prioritizes whiteness and excludes minorities. It taps into a sense of grievance among white voters who feel threatened by demographic shifts and cultural changes. For these supporters, Trump’s lack of morality or competence is irrelevant; what matters is his willingness to validate their worldview and protect the privileges afforded to them by systemic racism.
A Predictable Pattern
The election of Donald Trump should shock no one familiar with American history. Time and again, white Americans have demonstrated a willingness to support racist, immoral politicians—from Thomas Jefferson and Strom Thurmond to George Wallace and Donald Trump. Whether motivated by economic self-interest, fear of losing social dominance, or genuine belief in white supremacy, these voters have consistently chosen leaders who prioritize maintaining racial hierarchies over promoting justice and equality.
Breaking this cycle requires confronting uncomfortable truths about our past and present. It demands accountability—not just from individual politicians but from entire communities that have enabled their rise. Only by dismantling the structures of racism that have defined so much of American history can we hope to build a future where all people are truly treated as equals. Until then, the MAGA movement serves as a stark reminder that the legacy of empowering immoral, racist leaders is alive and well in the United States.