Trump's War on Truth: A Pattern of Disinformation and Authoritarianism

Strategic Insights -

President Donald Trump's penchant for rejecting facts and promoting "alternative realities" has reached alarming proportions, with scholars and former officials warning of a full-blown assault on truth and science. Trump's administration has fired several officials who presented facts he deemed unfavorable, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, who was suddenly fired after releasing data that undercut Trump's rosy economic boasts.

This is not an isolated incident. Trump's loyalists have been pushing falsehoods and rewriting history to promote Trump's policies and ideology, from the justice department to the Environmental Protection Agency. Trump's administration has impaneled a grand jury to investigate a conspiratorial charge by Trump's director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, that Obama and his aides engaged in a "treasonous conspiracy" to help Trump win the 2016 election. Furthermore, Trump's health secretary and vaccine sceptic, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has stepped up efforts to block some vaccines that scientists regard as crucial in fighting Covid and other diseases.

Critics say Trump's administration has increased its hostility towards facts and evidence in the second term, since Trump has avoided choosing the kinds of aides who served as guardrails against his authoritarian tendencies. Scholars and former officials warn that Trump's playbook of rejecting facts and promoting alternative realities is a hallmark of authoritarianism, and will do long-term damage to the country.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump administration has fired several officials who presented facts that were unfavorable to Trump, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, Erika McEntarfer.
  • Trump's loyalists have been pushing falsehoods and rewriting history to promote Trump's policies and ideology, from the justice department to the Environmental Protection Agency.
  • Trump's administration has impaneled a grand jury to investigate a conspiratorial charge by Trump's director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, that Obama and his aides engaged in a "treasonous conspiracy" to help Trump win the 2016 election.
  • Trump's health secretary and vaccine sceptic, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has stepped up efforts to block some vaccines that scientists regard as crucial in fighting Covid and other diseases.
  • Critics say Trump's administration has increased its hostility towards facts and evidence in the second term, since Trump has avoided choosing the kinds of aides who served as guardrails against his authoritarian tendencies.
  • The Trump administration's assaults on truth and facts will do long-term damage to the country, scholars and former officials warn.
  • Trump's administration has launched an all-of-government assault on wind and solar energy, throttling spending and regulations to expand fossil fuel production.
  • Trump's health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has announced the ending of 22 projects worth $500m to develop mRNA technologies that have been used in vaccines to combat respiratory viruses such as Covid and the flu.

Statistics:

  • 1,356 measles cases reported in the United States as of this month, the highest total of annual cases since 2000.
  • 10 tons of scientific evidence supporting the 2009 endangerment finding by the EPA, which has been rescinded by Trump's administration.
  • 22 projects worth $500m to develop mRNA technologies that have been ended by Robert F Kennedy Jr to combat respiratory viruses such as Covid and the flu.
  • 800 national guard troops deployed to America's capital by Trump to declare a "public safety emergency" despite data showing violent crime in DC was at a 30-year low.

Sources:

  • Shane, Peter. "Trump's Two-Rail Strategy for Reversing Climate Measures". New York Times, 9 August 2022.
  • Shane, Peter. "Mr Trump's Use of the National Security Council". New York Times, 25 August 2022.
  • Shane, Peter. "A Trump Adviser’s Move on the N.S.C." New York Times, 18 August 2022.
  • Associated Press. "Trump announces new nominee to replace BLS commissioner". 11 August 2022.
  • Associated Press. "Trump health secretary promotes conspiracy theories about vaccines". 8 August 2022.
  • Richman, Daniel. "The Justice Department’s Latest Effort to Support a False Narrative". The Atlantic, 8 August 2022.
  • Gerrard, Michael. "The Trump Team's Assault on Wind and Solar". The Hill, 23 August 2022.