VDH: The DEI Scam is Falling Apart, and Trump Broke It.

Aug 8, 2025

The podcast dives into the unraveling of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion movement. It highlights surprising public sentiment, revealing that even many Black and Hispanic Americans are turning against DEI initiatives. Notably, it discusses how figures like Trump resonate with voters on this issue. The conversation also critiques elitist manipulation of racial identities in the DEI context, showcasing the disconnect between skin color and social class. The insights spark an engaging dialogue about evolving perceptions of fairness and identity in a diverse society.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

DEI Is Politically Vulnerable

Victor Davis Hanson argues DEI is politically vulnerable and labeled racially biased.
Polls show white, Hispanic, and Black Americans oppose it, making it a winning issue for Donald Trump.

INSIGHT

Merit Hire Stigma Hurts Recipients

Victor Davis Hanson says DEI stigmatizes skilled non-white hires as 'DEI hires'.
That stigma discourages recipients and undermines merit-based recognition.

INSIGHT

Multiracial Reality Blurs DEI Lines

Victor Davis Hanson notes America's multiracial reality makes racial categories blurry.
That complexity invites abuse and prevents clear DEI qualification.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Why are even black and Hispanic Americans rejecting it? What does Trump get right that DEI advocates can’t answer? And how did elites like Elizabeth Warren and Zohran Mamdani game the system? Victor Davis Hanson answers these questions and explains how DEI’s unravelling will pan out on today’s episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.”

“ It predicates hiring, retention, promotion, tenure on the color of your skin and not the content of your character, or your gender or your sexual orientation. And so, it's a winning issue for Donald Trump, when you look at the polls. It's not just that 60% of so-called white people, who often feel they're victimized by DEI are opposed, but Hispanics and blacks also poll that they are against it. And people—that's baffled people. But it's kind of obvious when you think about it. It's commonsensical.

“DEI was based on poverty and past documented racism. … Mr. Mamdani says he's a minority and he is black, and he needs special preference. He also said he was gonna go after “white or affluent neighborhoods.” He's Indian American. His family originally came from India. Indian Americans, according to our census, are the wealthiest, most privileged ethnic group in America.So, what I'm getting at is your skin color no longer can be correlated, exactly, with your class.”

👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1

👉If you can’t get enough of Victor Davis Hanson from The Daily Signal, subscribe to his official YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273

👉He’s also the host of “The Victor Davis Hanson Show,” available wherever you prefer to watch or listen. Links to the show and exclusive content are available on his website: https://victorhanson.com

(0:00) The Decline of DEI

(3:05) Criticisms of DEI

(3:16) Evolution of Affirmative Action

(4:52) Challenges in a Multiracial Society

(5:27) Abuse and Misrepresentation in DEI

(7:31) Class vs. Race in DEI

(9:28) The Future of DEI

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices