A new book by Edward Stourton, Made in America, dares to challenge the conventional narrative that Donald Trump's presidency was an aberration. The author, a veteran BBC journalist, takes a bold approach by tracing the dark underbelly of American history, arguing that the 47th US president is merely a continuation of a long tradition of illiberalism and imperialism in the country.
Stourton delves into six key aspects of Trump's politics, exploring how they are rooted in America's past. He examines the intersection of religion and power, revealing a surprising affinity between Christian nationalism and the ideology of Trump. The author reveals that this connection can be traced back to John Winthrop, a 17th-century Puritan leader who described his Massachusetts colony as "a city upon a hill." This notion has been revived by modern-day Trump supporters, who see their president as a champion of restoring America's Christian roots.
The book also delves into the complex history of American expansionism, highlighting how the country's territorial ambitions were rooted in a desire for power and control. Stourton reveals that US presidents from Thomas Jefferson to William McKinley engaged in aggressive land-grabbing, often using coercion and violence to achieve their goals. This tradition of expansion is eerily familiar in Trump's own policies, including his border wall and aggressive trade tactics.
The author also examines the role of fear-mongering and xenophobia in American politics, tracing its roots back to the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. Stourton reveals that Trump's rhetoric on immigration has a disturbing parallel with John Adams' notorious anti-foreigner legislation. Similarly, Trump's attacks on the media can be seen as an echo of Andrew Jackson's infamous contempt for judges and the law.
While not every historical precedent fits neatly into place, Stourton makes a compelling case that Trump is a product of American history, rather than an outlier. The book is a thought-provoking exploration of America's complex past, challenging readers to reevaluate their assumptions about the country's values and ideals.
Ultimately, Made in America is a sobering reminder that America's politics are not always as tidy or principled as its founding documents might suggest. Stourton's book serves as a timely warning that understanding Trump requires understanding the dark underbelly of American history – and that this history continues to shape the country's politics today.
Stourton delves into six key aspects of Trump's politics, exploring how they are rooted in America's past. He examines the intersection of religion and power, revealing a surprising affinity between Christian nationalism and the ideology of Trump. The author reveals that this connection can be traced back to John Winthrop, a 17th-century Puritan leader who described his Massachusetts colony as "a city upon a hill." This notion has been revived by modern-day Trump supporters, who see their president as a champion of restoring America's Christian roots.
The book also delves into the complex history of American expansionism, highlighting how the country's territorial ambitions were rooted in a desire for power and control. Stourton reveals that US presidents from Thomas Jefferson to William McKinley engaged in aggressive land-grabbing, often using coercion and violence to achieve their goals. This tradition of expansion is eerily familiar in Trump's own policies, including his border wall and aggressive trade tactics.
The author also examines the role of fear-mongering and xenophobia in American politics, tracing its roots back to the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. Stourton reveals that Trump's rhetoric on immigration has a disturbing parallel with John Adams' notorious anti-foreigner legislation. Similarly, Trump's attacks on the media can be seen as an echo of Andrew Jackson's infamous contempt for judges and the law.
While not every historical precedent fits neatly into place, Stourton makes a compelling case that Trump is a product of American history, rather than an outlier. The book is a thought-provoking exploration of America's complex past, challenging readers to reevaluate their assumptions about the country's values and ideals.
Ultimately, Made in America is a sobering reminder that America's politics are not always as tidy or principled as its founding documents might suggest. Stourton's book serves as a timely warning that understanding Trump requires understanding the dark underbelly of American history – and that this history continues to shape the country's politics today.
. This book is like, totally on point, you know? Trump's presidency might've started out looking like an outlier, but Stourton's got some crazy connections between the past and present 
. I mean, who knew John Winthrop was still influencing people in 2025? 
And yeah, America's expansionism is super sketchy - it's like, they're just trying to get that power and control thing down pat 
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. It's like, we're not as far ahead as we think we are when it comes to human rights and all that jazz 
. Stourton's book is a wake-up call, for sure - we need to be more critical of our own assumptions about America's values and ideals 
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. Like, Trump's whole "America First" thing? It sounds like a rehashing of some of the same old nationalist sentiment from the 19th century 
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. Just don't say I didn't warn you when you're reading about all the dark underbelly stuff 
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. He's not some outlier, he's a product of his time, and it's up to us to understand where that came from so we can change the narrative 
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it's crazy how much of a connection there is between trump and some of the country's past, like the whole christian nationalism thing 
i mean, who knew john winthrop was the OG trump supporter? 
but seriously, stourton makes some really compelling points about american expansionism and fear-mongering in politics... it's time for us to take a closer look at our country's values and ideals 
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i mean, john winthrop's "city upon a hill" thingy is actually kinda creepy now that i think about it, and trumps affinity with christian nationalism is wild. and have you guys heard of the alien & sedition acts? 
they're like, ancient history... or so we thought. anyway, made in america is like, super insightful, it makes me wanna re-read all my american lit texts with new eyes 
Like, are we really getting a full picture of what's been going on in America? 
. It's crazy how some of these issues just keep coming back around. And what's with this whole Christian nationalism vibe? It feels like they're trying to erase all the other stuff that makes America diverse and cool 
. Anyways, I'll have to check out this book... sounds like it might be interesting 
, and I love how he's not afraid to get all uncomfortable with the dark side of American history 
. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the real America 
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. It's wild to think that the guy who built the wall at the border was basically following in the footsteps of dudes like Thomas Jefferson and William McKinley 
. Stourton makes some great connections between Trump's policies and America's past, it's like we're seeing our history in a whole new light 
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. Trump's presidency does feel like a continuation of some pretty problematic trends in US history, from its colonial past to its current xenophobic rhetoric 
. I mean, yeah, it's easy to say that Trump is an aberration, but have you seen the history books on American expansionism? It's like we've always been a country that values power and control over all else 
. It's sobering to think about how much of our country's politics is rooted in a desire for power and control, rather than justice or equality 
, we need to be having this conversation about how our past shapes our present 
Not exactly subtle. And yeah, the whole expansionism thing is pretty wild too... I mean, who thought building walls and invading other countries was a good idea? 
Anyway, if you want to get a better understanding of where America's coming from, this book is def worth checking out 
️. But for real though, can we talk about how Stourton's book is like a super scary mirror held up to America's past 
I'm not saying Trump is a hero or anything, but it's weirdly reassuring to think that there's this whole tapestry of history that underlies everything he does. It's like, if we can understand where we come from, maybe we'll be better equipped to navigate the complexities of today... but at the same time, what are we doing with all this knowledge? Are we just gonna keep repeating the same mistakes or can we use it as a chance to forge a new path? 
. The more love, compassion & empathy we share with each other, the better off we'll be 
. But when we ignore the hurtful parts of our history, like this dark underbelly Stourton's book talks about, it's gonna come back to haunt us again 
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Stourton's argument is so Interesting 
... expansionism and imperialism in American history is still super relevant today