The origins
The rise of contemporary American right-wing populism is not an accidental political phenomenon but the result of intertwined economic, political and social factors within the U.S., coupled with certain right-wing politicians’ deliberate rhetoric and incitement.
From the economic dimension, the imbalances of economic globalization and American industrial workers’ heightened economic grievances fuel the social mobilization basis for right-wing populism. Over the past decades, the U.S.-led neoliberal globalization has optimized global resource allocation. However, it has also aggravated imbalances in wealth distribution. U.S. multinational corporations and Wall Street financial capital reaped huge profits through outsourcing and financial speculation. In contrast, U.S. domestic manufacturing declined due to massive industrial relocation, causing the traditional industrial bases of the “Rust Belt” to wither. Blue-collar workers at home faced intensified unemployment risks, declining incomes and worsening living standards, trapped in the so-called “hillbilly elegy.” The wealth gap widened, and social stratification became more pronounced.
According to the Federal Reserve’s latest 2025 data, the wealthiest 0.1 percent of households control 13.8 percent of the nation’s wealth, while the bottom 50 percent own only 2.5 percent. After the 2008 international financial crisis, government bailouts tilted excessively toward financial institutions, failing to benefit ordinary people effectively. This issue deepened public distrust of financial and political elites and disappointment with economic realities, creating fertile ground for populism to spread.
From the political dimension, right-wing populism often emerges as a direct response. When representative democracy fails to function and parties become bitterly polarized, it creates a perfect opportunity for populist leaders to rise.
On one hand, the trust relationship between the establishment elites and the electorate has faced an unprecedented crisis. Moneyed interests have long infiltrated U.S. politics, with interest groups manipulating elections and policymaking. The policy orientations of political elites are seriously disconnected from the demands of ordinary Americans, leading to low political participation and historic low levels of trust in traditional elites, accompanied by growing calls to break the existing order.
On the other hand, partisan polarization has intensified. On living standard issues such as immigration, public security, healthcare and education, Republicans and Democrats are locked in a long-term deadlock, with “veto politics” frequently played out. Many social problems remain unresolved, and public dissatisfaction with both parties continues to rise. This political predicament prompts the public to seek alternative representation. Populists seize the opportunity to advocate breaking the existing power structure, claiming to “reclaim the people’s sovereignty,” thus enabling right-wing populist forces to challenge traditional establishment parties.
Regarding the cultural dimension, the fragmentation of national identity and confrontations from the ongoing “culture war” have injected intrinsic momentum into right-wing populism.
Under multiculturalist policies, certain immigrant groups may experience a weaker alignment with a nation’s dominant cultural norms. This dynamic can contribute to broader debates over national identity, often intensifying social tensions between advocates for pluralism and conservatives emphasizing traditional values. One observed consequence is the potential consolidation of a more assertive conservative identity among some portions of the native majority, which may increasingly frame national culture in exclusive terms.
The characteristics
American right-wing populism is characterized by a strong anti-establishment and anti-elite message, as well as tendencies toward nationalism, confrontational rhetoric and ideological division. These traits have greatly influenced the country’s political dialogue, coalition-building, policy debates and social identities.
A central feature of this populism is its reliance on binary divisions—”the people versus the elite” and “the outsider versus the establishment.” It asserts that establishment elites have unfairly monopolized political and economic power, leading to widespread distrust in institutions. By sharply criticizing these elites and the existing system, populist figures often cast themselves as political outsiders. They claim to speak for ordinary citizens and advocate for systemic change, a strategy that resonates with disillusioned segments of the public and serves as an effective tool for political mobilization.
Since 2016, right-wing populist movements in the U.S. have prominently advanced an “America First” agenda, translating nationalist and immigration-restrictionist rhetoric into concrete policy measures. In the economic sphere, this has manifested as a turn toward protectionism, with the use of tariffs to favor domestic industries—a shift that has introduced much friction into the global trading system. On immigration, policy has emphasized stricter border controls and increased enforcement, which has become a central and deeply polarizing issue in domestic political and social debates.
Social media has helped propel its rise. Traditional populism relied on speeches, rallies and TV media. Today, right-wing populism exploits social media’s algorithmic-induced viral spread and speed, bypassing traditional media “gatekeepers,” e.g., journalists and editors, and building a new mobilization model. Using simple, emotional language, they spread extreme views, amplifying anger and fear, and quickly mobilizing supporters. They even announce policy positions directly via social media, shaping opinion beyond traditional media, creating a phenomenon of “social media agitation” that disrupts the U.S. system of political communication.
The real-world impact
The rise of right-wing populism not only reshapes U.S. domestic politics but also exerts multidimensional and systemic influence on its economy, society and foreign policy. It not only reflects a response to governance failure but also poses grave challenges to U.S. development—as well as the global order.
In recent years, right-wing populism has placed mounting strain on the foundations of U.S. democracy. Disputes over the 2020 U.S. presidential election’s legitimacy fueled unrest, culminating in Trump supporters storming Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021. This incident severely damaged electoral credibility and directly challenged constitutional principles like checks and balances and peaceful transfer of power, shocking the democratic order.
The ideological and policy differences between the two major parties have become increasingly sharp and the space for political compromise continuously narrowed, leading the government to reach a governance deadlock frequently.
The domestic political consequences of right-wing populism have been accompanied by far-reaching economic effects. Trade protectionist policies driven by U.S. right-wing populism have negatively impacted the global economy. Since taking office in early 2025, the Trump-led government has imposed additional tariffs on many countries, increasing import costs for domestic firms, obstructing export markets and triggering retaliatory measures from other states. As a result, global industrial and supply chain stability has been severely undermined. U.S. consumers face rising price pressures, with low-income groups bearing the heaviest burden. In the long term, such measures will erode U.S. economic competitiveness and weaken the environment for international cooperation. Moreover, the short-term and volatile nature of populist policies has dampened business confidence, destabilized market expectations and heightened labor market fluctuations, undermining America’s sustainable growth and compounding risks to the long-term stability of the global economy.
Socially, the spread of right-wing populism has further deepened existing fractures within American society. Simultaneously, the surge of anti-immigration sentiment fuels racial antagonism and undermines the rights of minority communities, intensifying America’s social fragmentation. Besides, populist rhetoric is increasingly intertwined with misinformation and hate speech on social media platforms, escalating confrontations among groups with opposing views and eroding social cohesion.
These domestic dynamics have also shaped U.S. behavior on the international stage. In foreign affairs, U.S. right-wing populism has translated into policies marked by unilateralism and hegemonism. In recent years, the U.S. has disregarded international norms and multilateral cooperation mechanisms, withdrawing from UNESCO, the World Health Organization, the Paris Agreement, the Iran nuclear deal and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. These actions have undermined the global multilateral trading system, climate cooperation and nuclear non-proliferation regime, weakening U.S. international influence and leadership while accelerating disorder and restructuring of the international system.
Unless deep-seated structural problems in the U.S.—economic imbalances, widening inequality, political dysfunction and cultural fragmentation—are addressed, populism will inevitably resurface at historical junctures, transforming from an “undercurrent” into a “flood.” –The Daily Mail-Beijing Review news exchange item
