Does Racist Elite Speech Embolden Prejudiced Citizens? A New Look at Trump's Impact

In a politically charged environment, racial inflammatory remarks by elites may have unexpected consequences. This article examines how the 2016 Trump campaign's use of explicit racial language influenced prejudiced citizens in the United States.

Research Context:

The study explores elite communication during American elections and its effect on citizens with deeply ingrained racial biases despite widespread equality norms.

Experimental Design & Findings:

Through a survey experiment embedded within an online panel, this research uncovers:

• Without explicit support from elites, prejudiced individuals tend to limit their racist expressions.
• Explicitly inflammatory speech by elites can significantly embolden these citizens.
• The effect is amplified when other political elites tacitly condone such language.

The findings suggest that even subtle elite signals about racial issues may play a powerful role in shaping public discourse and behavior.