Trump Tells White Supporters at Rally "You Have Good Genes"

Minnesota Campaign Speech: "Many Things Are Related to Genes"
White Supremacy and Racism Controversy Rekindled... "Reminiscent of Nazis"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] President Donald Trump has sparked renewed controversy over racial discrimination after reportedly making white supremacist remarks, such as saying white supporters have good genes, during a campaign rally held in Minnesota. Trump's remarks are interpreted as a strategy to further consolidate white voter support ahead of the presidential election.

According to foreign media including Business Insider on the 21st (local time), President Trump said at a rally held in Bemidji, Minnesota on the 18th, "You have good genes," adding, "A lot of it is related to genes." He continued, "Don't you believe in the thoroughbred theory? Don't you think we are very different?" and emphasized, "You in Minnesota have good genes." These remarks quickly spread on social media services (SNS), sparking controversy over racial discrimination.

Minnesota's population is mostly composed of descendants of Scandinavian origin, and according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 79% of the residents are known to be white. The crowd gathered at Trump's rally that day was also mostly white, and Trump directly referred to the so-called "thoroughbred theory," born from past racial discrimination, which claims that "some people are genetically born superior." These remarks have been criticized for evoking the master race ideology and eugenics promoted by Nazi Germany in the past.

Steve Silberman, an American writer and historian, tweeted, "As a historian who has written about the Holocaust, I will speak frankly. This is no different from the Nazi rhetoric that led to the extermination of Jews, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals. This is America in 2020. The Republican Party has brought us here," criticizing the remarks.

President Trump has often caused controversy for racially discriminatory comments about genes in previous elections as well. During the 2016 presidential election rally in Mississippi, he said, "I am a smart person educated at an Ivy League school. I have excellent genes," and earlier in 2014, he was criticized for saying, "I am proud to be of German descent."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.