What Is A Nationalist In The Age Of Trump?

-Source-NPR- We are about to have a national conversation about the word nationalist. A word in more or less everyones vocabulary has suddenly become a flashpoint because well because it was claimed by President Trump during a stump speech in Texas on Monday. That alone means people are likely to argue about it. But the president said Tuesday he was a proud nationalist and he used it to contrast himself with previous presidents who negotiated trade deals arms agreements and immigration laws all of which involve the interests of other nations in addition to our own. Trump has made it his business to repudiate all of the above. He often recounts how he has complimented leaders of Japan and China and other world powers on their pursuit of their national interest. We should be more assertive about serving our own he says. I love our country he said explaining his remarks Monday night in Houston and our country has taken second fiddle. Other countries rich as well as poor are taking advantage of the U.S. Trump said. They got the better of trade and paid less for the common defense he said. Article continues after sponsorship All I want is for our country is to be treated well to be treated with respect so in that sense Im absolutely a nationalist and Im proud of it Trump said. There is nothing new in any of this. America First has been a Trump mantra for years. The suggestion that the U.S. has been fleeced by foreign partners and competitors alike has been central to his appeal to all those who find talk of globalism unsettling or even threatening.