The Rise of Right Wing Populism in USA during Obama’s Presidency

Abstract

The election of Barack Obama shook American political life throughout the era spanning from 2009 to 2017. This period saw the resurgence of some right-wing populist movements. Their slogans revolved around nativism and anti multiculturalism and drew a scary image of the United States of America and the American Dream. In many regards, the leading political movement; the Tea Party played a prominent role, as its obsession sought to discredit President Obama’s leadership abilities. In fact, this party showed fierce opposition to his policies and social and economic plans. In so doing, they mobilized the media and were hoping to influence public opinion. This dissertation seeks to explore the reactions of the Tea Party towards Obama’s policies and to unveil the legitimacy of their criticism towards Obama’s social and economic orientations.