The Red, White, and Bleak: Patriotism Hijacked by Nationalism and Hate

ChatGPT Image Aug 8 2025 10_13_28 AM - Civil Heresy

White Nationalism vs. Nationalism vs. Patriotism: Unpacking the Confusion on the Right

Among many on the political right—particularly within the MAGA movement—there’s a recurring and dangerous conflation of three very different concepts: white nationalism, nationalism, and patriotism. These terms are often used interchangeably by commentators, politicians, and media figures to signal “love of country” or “defense of heritage.” But equating them masks their radically different meanings and consequences. This confusion isn’t just semantic—it has profound political and moral implications.

Let’s begin by clearly defining each term and understanding why the distinctions matter.

White Nationalism

White Nationalism is not just pride in being white—it is a virulently racist ideology rooted in the belief that white people are superior to all other racial and ethnic groups. Its central goal is the preservation of what adherents believe is a “pure” white, European, Christian identity—often through violent means, forced separation, legal preference, or social domination.

This is not a fringe theory confined to internet echo chambers. It’s the foundational ideology of hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan, Neo-Nazis, the Proud Boys, and other organizations that openly traffic in bigotry and fear. These groups believe in segregated societies, white ethno-states, and a hierarchical vision of humanity—with white people, particularly white Christians, at the top.

Crucially, many of these groups have aligned themselves with Donald Trump and the MAGA movement. While it’s important to say that not all Trump supporters are white nationalists, it is undeniable that white nationalists see Trump as their champion. They view his rhetoric on immigration, race, and religion as validation of their worldview. That overlap should set off alarm bells for anyone who values democratic ideals, equality under the law, and basic human dignity.

Nationalism

Nationalism may seem less overtly toxic than white nationalism, but it still poses serious dangers to a democratic society. Nationalism elevates the idea of “the nation” above all else—above individuals, institutions, and even truth itself. As political scholars Alex Nowrasteh and Ilya Somin put it, nationalism is an ideology of group rights, not individual rights. It imagines the nation as a kind of collective organism, where the needs and identity of the dominant cultural group take precedence over personal liberty and pluralism.

In the American context, you can already see this playing out in the MAGA movement. Christian evangelicals push for theocratic policies, white supremacists demand cultural “purity,” and many nationalist-leaning politicians use government authority to suppress dissent, criminalize immigrants, and restrict education to protect a narrow vision of “traditional American values.” All of it is cloaked in the language of security, unity, and “taking our country back.”

Nationalism throughout history has served as the ideological fuel for oppressive regimes: Nazi Germany, Mussolini’s Fascist Italy, the British and French imperial projects, even Putin’s Russia today. Their governments wrapped themselves in flags and proclaimed national greatness while waging wars, jailing dissidents, and crushing diversity. And what did it lead to? Collapse, revolution, and the bloodshed of millions.

And now here we are in the United States, with MAGA supporters chanting “America First”—a slogan historically tied to isolationism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia. Trump has floated ideas like seizing the Panama Canal, claiming Greenland by force, and even invading Canada if “necessary.” These aren’t just bizarre proposals; they echo the expansionist, militant rhetoric of dictators past—like Hitler’s “Make Germany Great Again,” Mussolini’s “Italy must expand or perish,” or Putin’s “Make Russia Great Again.” The parallels aren’t just disturbing—they’re deliberate.

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Patriotism

Patriotism, by contrast, is a noble and necessary force. True patriotism is rooted in love for one’s country—not blind love, but a thoughtful, critical love. It means cherishing the foundational principles of liberty, equality, and justice. It means holding your country to its highest ideals, not excusing its worst behavior. It means respecting the rule of law, defending democratic institutions, and honoring the rights of all citizens, not just those who look, pray, or vote like you.

A patriot does not scapegoat immigrants or marginalized groups. A patriot does not tolerate political violence or encourage conspiracy theories. A patriot does not demand loyalty to a leader over loyalty to the Constitution. Patriotism is not about enforcing a nostalgic vision of a mythologized past—it’s about building a better, more inclusive future for everyone.

And this is precisely where MAGA fails. The movement does not promote patriotism; it promotes authoritarianism dressed in red, white, and blue. It idolizes a single man rather than the democratic process. It demonizes critics as enemies. It distorts truth and undermines institutions. There is no commitment to equality, no respect for diversity, no vision of liberty that includes all people. That is not patriotism—it’s nationalism and white nationalism masquerading as love of country.

The Bottom Line

When MAGA supporters conflate white nationalism, nationalism, and patriotism, they do more than just misunderstand language—they distort our political reality. They blur the line between loving your country and hating everyone who disagrees with you. They mistake dominance for strength and exclusion for unity.

This confusion isn’t just misguided—it’s dangerous. It fuels polarization. It emboldens extremists. It erodes the foundations of a democratic society.

To love America truly is to protect and strengthen what makes it worth loving: our diversity, our freedoms, our system of laws, and our unending struggle to live up to our ideals. That’s patriotism.

White nationalism and aggressive nationalism are not expressions of love—they are acts of fear and control. And they have no place in a healthy republic.