The Opinions There Is No Trump Without the South
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Oct 18, 2025 
Tressie McMillan Cottom, a sociologist and New York Times columnist, and Jamelle Bouie, an opinion columnist focused on American politics, delve into how Southern politics has shaped Trumpism. They discuss how Southern cultural elements provide a framework for national trends. Tressie connects Trumpism to Southern ideals of race and belonging, while Jamelle highlights the national adoption of Southern rural culture. They also address economic disparities and the significance of building local trust within shifting political demographics.
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Trump As A Southern Political Archetype
- David French observed that Donald Trump fits a long Southern mold of populist, theatrical politicians like Huey Long and George Wallace.
- That cultural familiarity helped Trump rapidly connect with Southern voters and fuel his national rise.
Southern Ideas Moved To The Center
- Tressie McMillan Cottom argues Trumpism embedded Southern ideas about race and belonging into national politics.
- She says national discourse often 'shunts' racial and exclusionary debates to the South, making those ideas a persistent resource.
Franchised Rural Culture Powers Populism
- Jamelle Bouie highlights a franchised national rural culture rooted in white Southern imagery that spreads across America.
- He notes Trump's appeal also draws on patriarchal Southern masculinity and celebrity wealth.