McCarthyism vs Trumpism: The Parallels

Senator Joseph Mccarthy of Wisconsin gained political power through the capitalization of society’s fear of communism in the 1950’s by falsely accusing innocent people of political corruption, these actions created a deep-rooted problem that is still ingrained in the government, entertainment industry, and American history. These long-lasting issues prevailed in the election of 2016 and throughout the current presidency of Donald Trump. Through the fear of border control, attacks on the police, terrorism, and the defamation of politicians who didn’t want to fight these problems or openly disagreed with him, he used these threats of everyday life to achieve his political goal. Both American Demagogues painted a fearful picture in order to validate their vision, though they didn’t create the situations of fear, they exploited it using the same tactics. The way they manipulated of the press and strengthened the fear of people appearing un-American if they spoke out against them was performed brilliantly. The influence made the climb to the top inevitable. Mccarthy was able to sell papers as Trump was able to enhance websites ratings. Though the candidate's accusations were impetuous, the media insisted on reporting everything increasing their platforms. The matters the press faced in the Mccarthy Era are still prevalent in today’s world.

The past media failed to ask simple questions like “why?’ or ask to see documents Mccarthy claimed to have. Media ethics and principles were completely disregarded, and things seemed to be mindlessly reported even if the reporters themselves knew they weren’t true. “While I cannot take the time to name all of the men in the State Department who have been named as members of the Communist Party… I have here in my hand a list that were known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party…”1 The list is what put Mccarthy on the map, starting his political journey. Evidence of this “list” or any of Mccarthy’s antics were never supported but gained him the publicity he yearned for. Though the media helped give Mccarthy a leg to stand on, some articles were aware of the power of fear. New York Times posted an article on April 12, 1953 stating, “It shows there are several schools of thought about the Senator from Wisconsin, but all in Washington agree it is risky to quarrel with him. ”2 It was deemed risky to attack Mccarthy because he could in turn ruin your name through the accusation of one being a communist and questioning your Americanness. While Joe Mccarthy pounced on people who dared to disagree with him, Trump similarly insults those who have anything negative to say and strikes at journalist for reporting news who are simply doing their jobs. He claims they’re working against the American people. Trump once tweeted, “The Fake News hates me saying that they are the Enemy of the People only because they know it’s TRUE. I am providing a great service by explaining this to the American People. They purposely cause great division & distrust. They can also cause War! They are very dangerous & sick!”3 McCarthy wasn’t shy to acting savagely towards journalists as he would throw out their names in order to control and shame them.

Like the list that Mccarthy used as bait, Trump used the missing emails of Hillary Clinton as his main way of fighting in the 2016 election. He even called upon Russia to help, “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing, I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press. ”The comment set off a media frenzy. Feeding the hunger of the press. Both were quick to putting blame on others, knowing the right outrageous things to say in order to keep themselves from being remembered, and masters at manipulating the media enough to stay talked about. Because they both spoke purely with bigotry and fear, they made the news outlets reporting on them money, which persuaded them to keep giving them airtime. Using, attacking, and hampering the news media, they cemented their goals. The attacks on the press was an ensured way to undermine their credibility.

When campaigning to get citizens on their side, they both went an all-American route and used similar tactics when it came to their opponents. Joe Mccarthy prevailed with his Tail Gunner Joe ads, “JOE MCCARTHY was a TAIL GUNNER in World War II. He was to SERVE America in the SENATE. Yes, folks. CONGRESS NEEDS A TAIL GUNNER. ”While Donald Trump’s slogan and whole campaign was “Make America Great Again”, promising to return the country back to how it was in its glory days. Voter turnout being best among the older generations ate that up. They both prided themselves with their love for the country to win America’s hearts and votes. Using military experience and nostalgia of old America proved right and useful in winning. When it came to their opponents, they didn’t mind playing hard ball pertaining to the insults and accusations. Mccarthy deemed Lafollette as a “New Deal Senator” and “the gentleman of Virginia” attempting to push him further and further away from his roots in Wisconsin. He also accused Lafollette of helping the communists, which was the running theme throughout his entire political career. Compared to the picture of a military war hero Mccarthy presented himself to be his opponent didn’t stand a chance.

Trump would most often refer to Hillary Clinton as “Crooked Hillary” pertaining to her use of private email servers while being secretary of state. That was his main argument against her and it was very effective. He also made comments against opponents of the same party, like Ted Cruz, when he said evangelicals couldn’t trust him because his father was from Cuba and most Cubans were catholic and said that he isn’t eligible to become president because he was born in Canada. Though both comments Trump never accused Cruz of anything instead he implied that all these possibilities were true. Through these remarks the facts and relevance were ignored, giving Trump more power. It’s safe to say both candidates, Trump and Mccarthy, used the tactics of a bully to get what they wanted. Both were able to tap into the anxieties and fears America held. But when approaching these anxieties, they never had/have a solid solution. “Senator Joseph R. McCarthy of Wisconsin told a cheering Republican convention today he would not soften his blows on the Communist issues because ‘a rough fight is the only fight Communists can understand. ’" The anxiety during Mccarthy’s time was the Red Scare. Through Mccarthy never exposed one communist and pointed his finger recklessly about as he behaved erratically, his antics kept him appearing on the front page of the news. He made America’s paranoia rise by declaring that communist spies were present and made US citizens believe he was the only man to do the job of leading them to salvation.

The postwar atmosphere was draped with the fear of communism and it seemed that everywhere was succumbing that fear like China becoming communist. An empty solution was the starting of the witch-hunts, blacklisting of people who were suspected of being a part of communism rose as the trials played on. Being accused of being a communist ruined your entire life. His whole political career all he had to offer society was the talk of communism, without that anxiety he would have not been as successful as he was. Trump, on the other hand, from the very beginning of his campaign stressed the anxieties of illegal immigration, terrorism, and the economy. He had the advantage of having several anxieties to toy with. His campaign was built on the frustrations of a white, blue collar worker. Instead of thinking of Trump as the bully, they thought of him as someone to take on the bully, the same can be said for Mccarthy and his supporters. The empty solutions Donald Trump gave and offered to the American people were the building of the wall along the Mexican border, banning Muslims from being able to enter the country, and by throwing out the people in the government who weren’t the brightest.

Through the tactics of bullying and harassing anyone who disagrees with their policies, deeming a person unpatriotic or unamerican in order to silence them, manipulating the press to achieve their objective, and the way they campaigned, these American Demagogues climbed their way up the political ladder and paralleled one another ever so perfectly. All of these things led to Joseph Mccarthy’s demise and fall from grace. Only time will tell if the same will happen to Donald Trump, that would be the ultimate parallel of them all but as of right now he is still going strong. Both thought of themselves as unifying the government and the American society by seemingly conquering the anxieties and fears but instead all they’re doing is dividing it even more through the hate and prejudices they spread. The legitimate concerns of the nation are what they used to gain support even though they only undermined what they claimed to value the most.