Commentary: Cities have long been a target of anger from the disaffected. History tells us to beware
Cities are hubs for growth and innovation, but stereotypes of urban decay and depravity have long been red meat for Republicans. Right-wing populism in the United States is rooted in the antagonism of rural voters to cities, which they almost uniformly view as liberal havens for unhoused people, criminals and deviants. In 2020, 65% of rural voters voted for Donald Trump, according to the Pew Research Center.
The directing of anger and fear toward cities dates to President Ronald Reagan’s conjuring of an image of “welfare queens” who own Cadillacs. Trump has
