Before we dive in, I want to take a moment to honor a legend. This post is dedicated to Frankie Beverly—a man who made us all feel united and embraced the power of music to spread joy. His iconic songs like “Happy Feelings” have stayed with us for decades. Frankie Beverly left us recently, but his legacy lives on. Thank you, Mr. Beverly, for everything.
Now, let’s talk about a topic with no happy feelings at all.
Donald Trump is not just another politician running for office. He is an existential threat to our entire democracy, particularly for African Americans. His potential return to the Oval Office is a direct risk to our nation’s future. He’s proven over and over that he’s ready to establish an authoritarian regime that targets Black communities. Yet, despite his apparent threat, his rise isn’t solely due to his own actions. There are people enabling him at every turn, fanning the flames of his dangerous rhetoric.
Let’s break down the reasons Donald Trump is such a threat—and more importantly, the faces behind him who keep him in power.
Trump’s Existential Threat to Democracy
Trump has repeatedly shown disdain for democracy. His words and actions over the years make it clear that he’s interested in more than just leading—he’s aiming for authoritarian control. He even told a crowd of white Christians that if they help him win in 2024, they wouldn’t “have to vote again.” That’s not democracy, that’s dictatorship.
His plans are far from hidden. Documents like “Project 2025” outline the precise steps his administration would take to strip away constitutional rights and implement authoritarian rule. These plans are not merely theoretical; they’re mapped out, and the people who designed them are eager to return to power. Trump himself has admired dictators openly and continues to mock the principles of free government in favor of strongman rule.
Who Are Trump’s Enablers?
While Trump is the face of this authoritarian movement, he’s not acting alone. A coalition of enablers surrounds him, helping him hold onto power and spread his dangerous ideologies. Without them, Trump would be a loudmouth with little actual influence. Let’s take a closer look at these four key groups:
1. Maga—A Movement Based on Antiblackness
Trump’s supporters have rallied around the slogan “Make America Great Again,” but what that really means for many of them is “Make America Greatly Anti-Black.” From day one, Trump’s rhetoric has been laced with racist undertones—and at times, outright racist statements.
He has repeatedly demonized Black communities. For example, in his recent speech, Trump falsely claimed that Haitians were eating cats and dogs in Ohio, a blatant display of racism that demeans Black people globally. This echoes his earlier claim that Haitians “all have AIDS,” part of a long history of anti-Black slurs that date back to the 1970s.
It’s not just Trump, though. His core supporters include a who’s who of blatant racists:
- Steve Bannon
- Stephen Miller
- Nick Fuentes
- David Duke
- Marjorie Taylor Greene
These aren’t just run-of-the-mill conservatives. These are people deeply committed to pushing a white supremacist agenda, and they’ve found their champion in Trump.
2. The Media—Normalizing Extremism
Let’s not forget the media here. Their role can’t be overlooked. Once upon a time, racist slurs or violent rhetoric from a presidential candidate would’ve ended their campaign immediately. Today, the major news outlets—Fox, NBC, ABC, CNN—treat his behaviors as if they were politics as usual. They normalize his antics because controversy drives ratings. And ratings bring advertisers. And all of that brings money.
The failure to hold Trump accountable for the hate he spreads plays a massive role in his ongoing success. They report on his remarks, but instead of condemning him, they simply move on to the next headline. By allowing his racism to exist unchallenged, the media has set the bar far lower than it was decades ago. And they continue to fuel his rise, willing to gamble with democracy for the sake of profits.
3. Ministers—Evangelical Support Amidst His Immorality
If anyone should be appalled by Trump’s behavior, it should be the Christian community. Yet, nearly 90% of white evangelicals still vote for Trump, and even some African American pastors have pledged their allegiance to him.
Prominent evangelicals, such as Franklin Graham and Robert Jeffress, have helped elevate Trump to a near-messianic figure among their congregations. Yet, Trump represents very little of what the Christian faith teaches. He’s openly immoral, consistently dishonest, and pushes white supremacist ideologies. But for some pastors, political gains and their own financial stability come first. Supporting Trump ensures the donations keep flowing, and for them, that’s worth overlooking his racism and immorality.
The issues of abortion and LGBTQ+ rights are often used to justify support for Trump. But focusing on those issues while ignoring his blatant racism and corruption is a betrayal of the Christian principles these ministers claim to represent.
4. Mega Donors—Funding the Racist Agenda
Finally, there’s the money trail. Without the funding from mega-donors, Trump’s campaign would fall flat. People like Elon Musk, Miriam Adelson, and Ken Langone (co-founder of Home Depot) have poured millions into keeping Trump afloat. Elon Musk has even used his massive platform, X (formerly Twitter), to continue propping up Trump’s agenda, giving him a medium to disseminate disinformation and hate on a global scale.
These billionaires are motivated by a combination of consolidating power and protecting their immense wealth. They are less concerned with public welfare and more concerned with maintaining a system that benefits them. Trump is their tool to do just that. They have decided that as long as they get what they want, they’re willing to side with a dictator-in-the-making.
Conclusion
Donald Trump’s rise to power isn’t an isolated phenomenon. He stands as a symbol of something much larger—an entire ecosystem of enablers who keep him in play: the Maga movement, the media that normalizes his actions, pastors who protect him for personal gain, and billionaires who fund his campaigns. These are the people and institutions that are actively keeping him afloat, ignoring the blatant threat he poses to democracy.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. For African Americans and many others, this isn’t a matter of political disagreement. It’s a matter of survival in the face of an administration ready to rip apart constitutional rights and entrench white supremacy.
As we continue this battle for justice and equality, let’s not just focus on Trump. We need to call out and hold accountable the enablers surrounding him—the system that props him up. Without them, he would be nothing more than a disgraced businessman, fading into obscurity.
Let’s keep our eyes on the bigger picture and fight for the future that America truly deserves—one that’s free from hate, oppression, and authoritarianism.
And as we fight, let’s do it with the “Happy Feelings” Frankie Beverly left us in our hearts.
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