Trump Invokes ‘America First’ at Inauguration

Image by Getty Images

By Daniel J. Solomon January 20, 2017

President Donald Trump told the assembled crowd at his inauguration that he was going to put “America First,” echoing promises he made on the campaign trail.

“A new vision will govern our land,” Trump said, outlining his vision of economic nationalism and protectionism. “From this day forward, it is going to be only ‘America First.’”

Such a reference harkens back to the 1930’s, when Charles Lindbergh and other isolationists formed the America First Committee, a group devoted to keeping America out of the gathering conflict in Europe. Lindbergh and his fellows often blamed Jews for trying to involve the United States in the war with Nazi Germany, and this tainted the famous airman’s reputation.

Speaking to the media, Trump has claimed that he does not intend to reference Lindbergh. But he’s continued to use the slogan, even after learning its provenance. Is this a dog-whistle to the “alt-right?” We’ll soon have ample opportunity to figure that out.

Contact Daniel J. Solomon at [email protected] or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon

Daniel J. Solomon is the former Assistant to the Editor/News Writer at the Forward. Originally from Queens, he attended Harvard as an undergraduate, where he wrote his senior thesis on French-Jewish intellectual history. He is excited to have returned to New York after his time in Massachusetts. Daniel’s passions include folk music, cycling, and pointed argument.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO