On 29 November US president Donald Trump, known for his racist and chauvinist views, shared three tweets posted by Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of the notorious far-right group Britain First.

These posts blatantly attacked Muslim communities in Western countries. The footage shared by Fransen falsely associates violence with Muslims.

Not only were the content of the videos misleading and manipulative, but by retweeting the posts of Britain First, Trump has given a platform to a racist group to articulate their corrupt and loathsome sentiments.

Despite being a fringe group, Britain First does actively target Muslims through social media and in the streets.

But Trump's retweets are no surprise. Last January, he signed an order banning the entrance of people from six Muslim-majority countries (now upheld by the US Supreme Court). This prompted mass anti-Trump protests both in USA and Britain.

These posts, which fuel hatred, are part of a perpetual and systematic campaign to divert the interests of working class people.

The intention is to blame the increasing social and economic deprivation suffered by the majority onto minority groups, and thereby cause division within the working class.

Therefore, socialists must reiterate that the austerity and misery experienced by the majority is caused by the policies of capitalist governments and profit-hungry big corporations.

Scandalously, Theresa May has invited Trump to Britain. A state visit by a president who endorses and gives a platform to a blatantly Islamophobic far-right group will be a massive assault on Muslim communities in this country.

Spreading racial and ethnic hatred is unacceptable and Trump's visit must be met with mass opposition in Britain. Trade unionists and socialists must play a key role in building such opposition.

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.