ABSTRACT

Donald Trump's victory over Hillary Clinton sets off widespread fears among those on the left that the country's constitution and the democratic political institutions and practices developed in its name were in serious jeopardy. During the 1970s and 1980s Trump's social life achieved as much prominence as his business dealings. In addition to a widening variety of business ventures, including brand name merchandise, Trump launched Trump University. Trump's entry into the world of competitive party politics followed Barack Obama's election to the presidency in 2008. In 2011 and at the beginning of the 2012 presidential election campaign Trump did a series of interviews on television talk shows in which he adopted the birther rhetoric. The relationship between Donald Trump and the "Alt-Right" during and after the 2016 presidential race appears similar, except to say Trump went further in tacitly supporting its outlook.