Steven Johnston & Char Miller — Trump’s Enemies List

Steven Johnston, University of Utah

Char Miller, George Mason University

On November 8, 2016, Donald Trump was elected president of the United States. Trump is manifestly unfit to hold this—or any other public—office. He ran a campaign characterized by racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, misogyny, ignorance, narcissism, violence, cruelty, and utter contempt for democratic institutions, norms, practices, and procedures. An American national government dominated by the likes of Trump, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, and John Roberts is poised to inflict unprecedented damage to the country, the world, and the planet. It is imperative that this axis of white nationalist ressentiment be opposed at every point. Anticipating that they are going to face determined resistance, one of Trump’s most valued advisers, Newt Gingrich, has called for a resurrection of the House un-American Activities Committee to prosecute their ambitions. This measure, whether an actual proposal or a bluff, is nothing less than the first institutional move to create a domestic enemies list. Tens of thousands of students who have struck and walked out of classes, Nevada Senator Harry Reid, and the cast of Hamilton, among others, have already placed themselves in the crosshairs by voicing opposition to Trump’s election. We refuse to be intimidated or silenced and will speak out against and oppose any and all measures the Trump regime, the GOP controlled House and Senate, and the activist Roberts Court pursue designed to further their virulent neoliberal, nationalist agenda. Therefore, as democratic citizens we volunteer to have our names placed on Gingrich’s—and by implication Trump’s—enemies list. We welcome Contemporary Condition readers, friends, colleagues, and fellow citizens to join us. If you’re willing to have your name added to the list, please let us know.