President Trump Has Re-appropriated The Term "Nationalist"

President Donald Trump has officially re-appropriated the term "Nationalist" choosing to defiantly rip it away from those who would consider it limited exclusively to National Socialism or Fascism, bearing the implied taint of ethno-nationalism and racism. This is a facile and hyperbolic assertion at best, one which is finally being laid-bare splayed across the news cycle for everyone to debate.

During a Monday night rally in Houston, TX for Senator Ted Cruz, President Trump made no qualms about it and explained his view of the term quite clearly:

"A globalist is a person that wants the globe to do well, frankly, not caring about our country so much. And you know what? We can't have that. You know, they have a word. It sort of became old-fashioned. It's called a nationalist. And I say, really, we're not supposed to use that word. You know what I am? I'm a nationalist, OK? I'm a nationalist.
"Nationalist. Nothing -- use that word. Use that word."

Within mere hours the Mass Media apoplexy began with CNN, The Huffington Post, The Hill and Politico chiming in. It should be noted that CNN's Chris Cillizza started his article by quoting the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of "Nationalism", he wrote:

"Let's start with what nationalism means. Here's the definition, from Merriam-Webster (emphasis mine): "a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups."

This immediately brought a flashback to President Barack Obama's 2015 admonishment of George Stephanopoulos for quoting Merriam-Webster's definition of taxation while questioning him on Obamacare. So it would seem the left has embraced use of dictionary definitions "For me but not for thee." As the left prepares their effigies and ad hominem attacks painting the President as a goose-stepping, bundled axe wielder, the right-wing news media have lined up in droves to defend Trump's apt definition of Nationalism as the antithesis of rampant UN/EU globalism. Something I described in an podcast earlier this year:


This past February I also wrote The Rise of 21st Century Nationalism placing it in the context of  Marine Le Pen's Presidential run in France, the Tories 2016 victory under PM Theresa May and Brexit as well as Trump's election. Back then I wrote:

"With the results of the various 2016 elections I would say it is quite obvious that the forces of globalism and collectivism are on a collision course with history. What is more I believe that we as Americans are partly to blame."

 President Trump's comments on Monday were an affirmation: American Nationalism has returned, whether the term offends anyone or not. It is a fact: Americans believe in American Exceptionalism and American Nationalism is the logical extension of it.
Not only are we on a collision course with globalism's assault on American sovereignty and collectivism's assault on the free market, but as of this week President Trump has turned into it head on and accelerated as if to say "No. You Move."  


Image By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America - Donald Trump, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73738913