Bannon, the former chief strategist in the Trump administration, has expressed his enthusiasm for the alt right, a loose network of individuals and groups that promote white identity and reject mainstream conservatism in favor of politics that embrace implicit or explicit racism, antisemitism and white supremacy.
However, his naming of Internet and “alt-right” provocateur Steve Bannon as chief White House strategist, is causing a wave of controversy.
Since becoming president-elect, Donald Trump has struck a softer tone, repeatedly pledging to work on behalf of all Americans. However, his naming of Internet and “alt-right” provocateur Steve Bannon as chief White House strategist, is causing a wave of controversy.
In August 2016, alt right personality Richard Spencer told the Daily Beast, “Breitbart has elective affinities with the alt-right and the alt-right has clearly influenced Breitbart. In this way, Breitbart has acted as a ‘gateway’ to alt-right ideas and writers.”
Steve Bannon, Donald Trump’s chief strategist, claims he turned his Breitbart News website into the “go-to platform” of the alt-right, a fringe brand of conservatism. Here are a few terms the alt-right uses.
Here are some terms they use, and other hallmarks to look out for: Beta: Members of the alt-right are obsessed with masculinity, manhood, gender roles and the concept of “alpha” and “beta” males. Alpha males are leaders, like Trump; beta males are portrayed as weak and emasculated.
White genocide: What many alt-right members feel is the natural conclusion of liberalism and pro-immigrant policies. The alt-right views just about anything that benefits nonwhite people, particularly ones who aren’t American citizens, as a risk to whiteness and a step on the road to the eradication of the white race.
Often used as shorthand for policies that benefit immigrants and people of color. Neoreactionaries: Also known as NRx and the “Dark Enlightenment. ”. A group of people who call for stripping away anything other than supposedly rational thought, as opposed to a “feelings first” mentality.
Memes: The modern alt-right originated in places like 4chan and 8chan, which are hubs for meme creation. Meme creation is still a centerpiece of the movement. The alt-right is responsible for getting the Pepe the Frog meme classified as a hate symbol.
Political correctness: Anything that challenges an alt-right person’s right to say whatever they want, whenever they want, in any way they want to say it. According to the alt-right, political correctness is responsible for most of society’s ills, including feminism, Islamic terrorism and overly liberal college campuses.
Cuckservative, cuck: The term “cuckservative” originated in the alt-right. It’s a portmanteau of “conservative” and “cuckold” used to describe Republicans who are perceived to be emasculated or “selling out.” Frequently shortened to “cuck,” the term has come under scrutiny for its racist implications.
Steve Bannon, former president of the incendiary Breitbart News and more recently chief executive of Trump's campaign, is taking on a role as "chief strategist and senior counselor." Bannon's ascension is the clearest sign yet that Trump will maintain his ties to the populist white nationalism that helped propel him to the White House against overwhelming opposition from party leaders and traditional media.
With the motto "#WAR, " Breitbart under Bannon was also known for its feuds against so-called "globalist" Republicans who favor free trade and a relaxed immigration policy.
Priebus called Bannon a "force for good on the campaign at every level" in an appearance on MSNBC on Monday and said that Trump would reach out to all Americans.
Breitbart writer Milo Yiannopoulos wrote in March that the alt right used anti-Semitic imagery, but only to "shock older generations," which was little comfort to Jewish writers bombarded with Holocaust-themed abuse by purported Trump supporters throughout the campaign.
Ben Shapiro, a writer who left the site over the Fields incident, later complained that the site had come to embody an "alt right" movement that was " shot through with racism and anti-Semitism ." He added in a follow-up column on Monday that, while Bannon was "happy to pander to these people," his personal views were less clear.
Breitbart regularly features material from far-right figures around the world, like Geert Wilders, the Dutch politician who has proposed banning the Koran and penned an op-ed for the site recently titled " Let's lock the door on Islam ."
Trump flirted with supporting Nehlen, tweeting praise for him and threatening to withhold his endorsement from Ryan, before ultimately backing the speaker's campaign. Their relationship, and Bannon's role in negotiating it, will go a long way toward determining Trump's success pursuing his legislative agenda.