Analysis: Why Trump Is Weaponizing Tattoos and Antisemitism So Broadly

An announcement from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and a press release from the State Department highlight the Trump administration’s glaring duplicity and authoritarian nature

Photo by Khadim Fall on Unsplash

The recent announcement by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to screen noncitizens' social media activity for antisemitism is yet another step toward the United States becoming everything they told us about countries they want us to hate, like Cuba, Venezuela, Russia, China, and North Korea. Agents given the power to decide what antisemitism is based on dubious definitions means noncitizens will be subject to even more discrimination.

With the attempts to silence dissent about a genocide over the last two years by redefining what antisemitism is and the passage of unconstitutional legislation like the Antisemitism Awareness Act to try and bolster that redefinition, Trump was handed a laser-guided weapon to use against his detractors. And despite being an administration that is arguably the most antisemitic in history, Trump is building on the misguided bipartisan efforts occurring before his second term.

“There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world’s terrorist sympathizers, and we are under no obligation to admit them or let them stay here,” said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin. “Sec. Noem has made it clear that anyone who thinks they can come to America and hide behind the First Amendment to advocate for anti-Semitic violence and terrorism – think again. You are not welcome here.”

Trump’s weaponization of the new questionable definition of antisemitism and his actions, aside from denying due process, are supported by many Democrats, thus emboldening him.

The silence over USCIS saying it will “consider,” as a negative factor, noncitizens' social media that it believes is “endorsing, espousing, promoting, or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terrorist organizations, or other antisemitic activity,” speaks volumes. This is a decision that affects noncitizens applying for lawful permanent residency (green card), anyone affiliated with educational institutions “linked to antisemitic activity,” and all foreign students.

Meanwhile, a separate statement from Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce denounced the arrest of a U.S. citizen in Thailand for his speech. Her comments came after a Thai court issued an arrest warrant for Paul Chambers, an academic at Thailand's Naresuan University, for comments he made about the nation's leadership.

He was arrested on Tuesday under Thailand’s 'lese majeste' law after allegedly insulting the monarchy. Chambers also faces charges under the Computer Crimes Act.

“This case reinforces our longstanding concerns about the use of lèse majesté laws in Thailand,” Bruce said. “We continue to urge Thai authorities to respect freedom of expression and to ensure that laws are not used to stifle permitted expression. As a treaty ally of Thailand, we will closely monitor this issue and advocate for the fair treatment of Paul Chambers.

A 'lese majeste' law is regarded as a crime against the dignity of a ruling head of state, typically a king or queen, or the state itself. The term has French roots, meaning “a crime against the crown.” This means that any criticism of the Thai royal family could be a crime if it is insulting or defamatory. While the law is rarely used against foreigners, Chambers, who writes analyses on the kingdom’s military and politics, is especially vulnerable.

“Section 112. Insulting or Defaming Royal Family - Whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent, shall be punished with imprisonment of three to fifteen years.”

Let’s not mince words; the State Department has a valid point. Experts at the United Nations (UN) have often demanded the repeal of Thailand’s 'lese majeste' law, and rightfully so. In 2015, the UN issued a report highlighting the human rights violations resulting from the law, saying, “Under international law, individuals have the right to criticise public officials.”

“The Thai lèse-majesté law is both harsh and vague, giving wide discretion to the authorities and the courts to define the offence broadly and has led to the detention, prosecution and punishment of over 270 persons since 2020, many of whom have been given long consecutive sentences by the courts,” the experts continued.

However, in reading both statements, one cannot help but notice the contrast between the two as the Trump administration targets noncitizens because of tattoos or their words in speaking out against the slaughter of children. Looking at the history behind tattoos and speech being weaponized against nonwhite communities, comparisons between these recent actions and those of the past are few and far between despite their relevance to one another.

The way the UN experts described Thailand’s law is much like what we are witnessing in the U.S. today in giving authorities “wide discretion” to define an offense broadly. This is precisely what saying every migrant who crossed the border is illegal and, therefore, a criminal while also saying criticism of Israel or U.S. policy in the Middle East is criminal. Indeed, the State Department makes a valid point, but it’s not applying the same standard at home.

Instead, the administration acts more like the Thai monarchy than anything else.

Analysis

Watching the Trump administration target Latino immigrants and anti-genocide protesters under the guise of being so-called “terrorists” makes it clear that denying free speech, freedom of expression, and due process are being weaponized against what the administration perceives as part of an anti-Trump coalition. Both groups have been singled out based on foundational ideas born out of the racist “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory.

The United States has been subjected to myriad fictional tales of migrants being intentionally brought into the country to support Democrats, alongside suggestions that attempts to impose Sharia law are happening from coast to coast. Conflating speaking out against the mistreatment of migrants with socialism or the conflation of opposing a genocide with antisemitism have been employed to stoke fear among white people more than anyone.

Equating Venezuelans with gang members, Mexicans with cartels, and Palestinians with terrorism is no different than equating Black people and Latinos with violent crime, something Trump and his supporters regularly do as well. Dehumanizing all nonwhite groups, including those that thought white nationalists wouldn’t come for them, is what racists do.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said the quiet part out loud on social media, telling us their job is to stop “ideas”

What is happening now was expected by those who know history and have been watching this country gradually slide to where it is today. We tried to warn other nonwhite communities and reach white communities, particularly the poor. The Christian white nationalist nature of what Republican lawmakers are doing has been in the works for decades. That many fell for it in the political party that is supposed to oppose it is even more alarming.

Slowly but surely, the descent into an authoritarian state by committee has led us to where we are today. While Trump has certainly pushed us over the edge into fascism, every administration for the last several decades has taken steps to limit our civil liberties, particularly our right to free speech and expression. That descent was unfortunately accelerated in the aftermath of 9/11 with the passage of the Patriot Act, culminating where we are today.

Many tried hard to stop it.

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Arturo is an independent journalist whose work can be found at Unicorn Riot, The Antagonist Magazine, Latino Rebels, and more. Arturo is also on TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, and Threads. To support his work, become a paid subscriber or donate via Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App.