From ‘lock her up’ to ‘send her back’, Donald Trump’s evolution continues apace

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From ‘lock her up’ to ‘send her back’, Donald Trump’s political evolution continues apace.

He has gone from misogynist would-be persecutor of a political rival to a racist, misogynist would-be persecutor of a political rival.

On July 17, Mr Trump goaded a crowd at his rally in North Carolina to chant “send her back! send her back!” in reference to Ilhan Omar, the congresswoman who arrived in the US almost 30 years ago as a refugee from Somalia.

Back in the 2016 presidential campaign, Mr Trump’s rallies routinely changed “lock her up” in reference to his opponent Hillary Clinton.

What’s changed between 2016 and now? Mr Trump is still focussed on removing women from his path – somehow, any which way, legal or not. He won’t consent to a proper argument, just bullying, harassment, derision and ridicule. Most women know exactly what that sounds like. 

And he allows no consideration about rule of law, propriety, decency or honour to stand in his way.