Summary

Historian Nicole Hemmer discussed Donald Trump’s strategy of exploiting tragedies for political gain, labeling it part of a broader right-wing effort to sow division.

Hemmer noted Trump’s pattern of politicizing disasters, from Hurricane Maria to the California wildfires, to attack political opponents and promote conspiracy theories.

This tactic is linked to a media environment that thrives on outrage and a conservative ecosystem that weaponizes anger for electoral gains.

This approach degrades public life, fosters animosity, and amplifies societal despair.