Trump tweets sharpen race and immigration rifts

Subject

US political strain.

Significance

President Donald Trump ignited a political firestorm when he tweeted that four minority freshman Democratic congresswomen -- three native US-born and one a naturalised US citizen, who have been highly critical of US policies -- should “go back” to the countries they came from. The remarks spotlight both parties’ relationship with race and immigration ahead of the 2020 election.

Impacts

• The Democrats’ boost from Trump’s tweets will be dented if further party infighting breaks out.
• To make gains in 2020, the Republicans will need to win more minority voters.
• Trump’s tweets will make winning more minority voters more difficult.
• It will be difficult to make reforms to the Republican Party that Trump does not agree with.