President Trump's remarks starkly illustrate the racial political stance of his administration—a position whose core logic is that white people have become the true victims of discrimination in America.
In an interview, President Trump stated that he believes the protective policies enacted during the Civil Rights era ultimately resulted in white people "suffering extremely unfair treatment." This statement also clearly indicates that the rhetoric of "reverse discrimination" is a primary motivation for his vehement criticism of diversity and equity policies.
Trump's comments during a New York Times interview on Wednesday align with recent appeals made by Vice President JD Vance and other senior officials. In recent weeks, these officials have been urging white men to file federal lawsuits with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
When asked whether the protective policies established following the passage of the Civil Rights Act of the 1960s had led to discrimination against white men, Trump responded that "many people have been treated extremely unfairly."
"White people have been treated very badly—performing excellently but unable to gain admission to universities," he said, clearly referencing "affirmative action" policies in college admissions. "So I think, in some cases, it's unfair."
He added, "I acknowledge that these policies achieved some significant results during a specific period, but at the same time, they hurt many people who should have had opportunities—those who should have gotten into college, who should have gotten jobs, but ultimately missed their chance. This is essentially a form of reverse discrimination."
Trump's remarks succinctly encapsulate his administration's racial political stance—a stance built on the core belief that white people have become the real victims of discrimination in the United States. During the presidential campaign, Trump capitalized on backlash against protests like "Black Lives Matter," asserting that "there is clearly an anti-white sentiment in this country," and joined his supporters in condemning what he termed "woke" policies.
The Trump administration claims that abolishing various policies promoting diversity and inclusion will help create a merit-based society. However, civil rights leaders argue that Trump's comments reveal his true objective: to primarily amplify the perceived "plight" of white men.
Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, the nation's oldest civil rights organization, stated, "There is no evidence to suggest that white men face discrimination as a result of the civil rights movement, the implementation of the Civil Rights Act, or America's efforts to rectify long-standing racial disenfranchisement."
Within hours of taking office, Trump ordered the dissolution of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office, which was responsible for addressing systemic discrimination faced by minorities and women. Furthermore, last year, he directed federal agencies to cease enforcing key provisions of the foundational Civil Rights Act.
Trump has also equated "diversity" with "incompetence" and "inferiority," positioning himself as a "protector" of white people both in America and globally. In Wednesday's interview, when asked if his immigration policies were designed to increase the proportion of white people in the U.S., Trump responded that he wants to attract "people who love this country."
"It's very simple," Trump said. Notably, while tightening refugee admission policies, he created an exception for refugees from South Africa, who are predominantly white. "I want people who love this country."
The primary executor of this agenda is the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), established under the Civil Rights Act in 1965. Last month, the agency's Chair, Andrea Lucas, issued a strongly worded video statement clearly signaling its new stance.
"Are you a white male who has faced discrimination in the workplace because of your race or gender?" Lucas asked in a video posted on platform X. "Under federal civil rights law, you may have the right to file a claim and recover financial losses. Please contact the EEOC promptly, as claim filing deadlines are often strict."
"The EEOC is committed to identifying, combating, and eliminating all forms of racial and gender discrimination—including discrimination against white male job applicants and employees," she emphasized.
In the video, Lucas also directed white men to consult the Commission's FAQ on Discrimination Related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The document notes that "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)" is a broad term not explicitly defined in the Civil Rights Act.
For a long time, the EEOC has been a central agency for handling workplace discrimination lawsuits in the U.S. and a resource for groups historically facing discrimination, such as minorities and women. However, under Lucas's leadership, the agency has become a powerful tool for Trump's assault on DEI policies, shifting its focus towards seeking remedies for the perceived "unfair treatment" experienced by white men.
Lucas's video post received supportive reposts from Trump's chief domestic policy adviser, Stephen Miller, and Vice President Vance. Last month, Vance reposted the video in a series of tweets condemning DEI policies.
The Vice President also shared an article attributing white men's missed opportunities to various diversity and inclusion initiatives. "Many people think 'Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)' is just boring multicultural workshops or racial slogans at NFL games," Vance wrote on X last month. "But in reality, it's a deliberate plan designed specifically to discriminate against white men."
Labor and civil rights attorneys point out that Lucas's video marks a further escalation in the Trump administration's strategy—attempting to use civil rights laws to seek redress for what they describe as the "disenfranchisement" of white men, rather than assisting historically marginalized groups.
"In the history of this agency, I have never seen such a blatant appeal—specifically targeting a particular racial and gender group, urging them to contact the Chair's office directly to complain about alleged discrimination," said former EEOC Chair Jenny R. Yang. "This approach raises many serious concerns."
Comments