According to the media, is Donald Trump really...a racist?

I'm sure you are all by now quite tired of hearing about the fake orange-tan skinned man with a small-hand complex. And perhaps you are raging at his outrageously racist statements from his press conferences. But I would like to bring to attention a wider issue: does the media itself support white privilege by giving such widespread attention to Donald Trump?

As a generalisation, many Trump have strong anti-immigration stances, have overly nationalistic views and a firm belief that the United States should bomb the hell out of those oil fields.

At the same time, you might be wondering why would these American politics matter so much to us Kiwis in the faraway land of Aotearoa? 

America and its leaders seem to affect everyone, and interestingly enough both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders in spite of being at polar ends of the political spectrum, happen to have strong anti-TPPA stances.

The media as a whole has issues with colour-blindedness and whiteness. There is always a shock response to how white students respond to students of ethnic minorities discuss stereotypes and social inequality. But Trump takes a strong stance on a whole new level by making comments about those who might threaten this unified feeling, by calling illegal Mexican immigrants rapists and suggesting a temporary ban on Muslims entering the country.

Realistically though, are there any reasons the media would find him appealing? Fox News for one, continues to mention that the election of Trump as president would bring stability to the Middle-East.

Trump definitely appeals to libertarians in particular. He has a strong opposition towards Obamacare and any form of universal health care. He opposes the raising of a minimum wage and is immensely in favour of increasing the corporate tax rate. In that sense he gives off the impression that he legitimately is a candidate and that he could actually be the next President of the United States (well at least the Republican Nomination).

Still, how would ignorant views towards Muslims and disrespectful towards fellow female candidates increase his support in media coverage?

His increase in spotlight can be interpreted as white privilege being supported in part by online media if it increases the endorsement Donald Trump-and his accomplishments of as a powerful white man demonising all these other people of colour (in particular Mexicans and Arabs).

Undoubtedly, he is popular due to his ability to dismiss everything. Although extreme, he has his views and he makes it clear that those are not going to change. And in that sense he appears as a leader who is determined to get what he wants. Ironically enough, one could interpret that he seems honest because he does not care about political correctness. And somehow by making misogynistic jokes about menstruation and making fun of his political opponents, he is still leading the republicans in terms of votes.

 And his biggest plan? The construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico Border. He also is demanding that Mexico pays for the construction of a wall by threatening the imposition of economic sanctions by increasing fees on temporary visas issued to Mexican diplomats and those who apply for border crossing cards at ports of entry to the United States from Mexico.

But the consequences are there. There is constant media coverage of Anti-Trump protests, and in recent news a gathering blocked Donald Trump to his press coference. Trump had to cross over a highway and enter the hotel through its back entrance to which he jokingly described the event as if he "was crossing the border actually”.