Washington

David Frum on why Donald Trump cannot win

The senior editor of The Atlantic magazine decodes Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric and why Trump is doomed to fail

Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg/Getty

Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg/Getty

The contrast could not be greater. As Justin Trudeau announces that the first Syrian refugees will arrive in Canada on Thursday and Saturday, Donald Trump has doubled down on his promise to shut the door to all Muslims coming to the U.S.

Trump’s remarks have been condemned around the world as bigoted, racist and inflammatory—and yet he remains the frontrunner to be the Republican presidential nominee.

Related: Donald Trump, America’s hate-monger

Will Trump’s inflammatory remarks lead to a political flameout, or will they radicalize the Republican race and ignite a dangerous Trump-led culture war?

We asked David Frum, senior editor of The Atlantic magazine and former speechwriter for George W. Bush to decode the new, controversial Trump strategy, and explain why he thinks Trump is a political magician who’s about to run out of tricks.

Related: Why Donald Trump can’t fight the arc of history

Looking for more?

Get the Best of Maclean's sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for news, commentary and analysis.
  • By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.