Is Donald Trump an aberration or a symptom of a deeper US malady?

The underlying causes of Trump’s rise to power must be addressed, from taming social media to tackling inequality

The assault on the US Capitol by Donald Trump’s supporters, incited by the president himself, was the predictable outcome of his four-year-long assault on democratic institutions, aided and abetted by so many in the Republican party. And no one can say that Trump had not warned us: he was not committed to a peaceful transition of power.

Many who benefited as he slashed taxes for corporations and the rich, rolled back environmental regulations and appointed business-friendly judges knew they were making a pact with the devil. Either they believed they could control the extremist forces he unleashed, or they didn’t care.

Related: Why the Democrats should not impeach Donald Trump | Simon Jenkins

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