It may have disappeared from Donald Trump’s website overnight, but never forget: On Dec. 7, 2015, Trump called for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.” He has advocated for shutting down mosques. He suggested a database to track Muslims in the U.S. He attacked Gold Star parents Ghazala and Khazir Khan based on their faith. And we elected him to the highest office in the country anyway.
On Wednesday night’s episode of the The Daily Show, Trevor Noah brought on senior political correspondent Hasan Mihnaj to wonder why Trump’s bigotry wasn’t a dealbreaker for so many Americans. Minhaj argued that even though Trump voters might not all share his extreme views, their vote has ensured that those views are now in the White House: “You may not personally be a racist, sexist xenophobe, but that comes with the package […] so if you take that deal, what you’re telling me is, ‘Hey man, I don’t hate you. I just don’t care about you.’ ”
As Noah pointed out, Islamophobia in America is nothing new. But Minhaj explains that Trump’s election has changed everything. “It used to be when I walked on a plane, I could feel the stares and suspicion, and it sucked, but at least I knew the president of the United States had my back,” he said. “But now, that asshole in seat 21B calling the flight attendant, trying to get me thrown off the plane, now that guy is the president. Plus, I also think he’s groping the lady sitting next to him.”
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