Commenting on the news that explosive packages were sent to critics of President Donald Trump, Dr Alexander Smith, Senior Leverhulme Research Fellow and Assistant Professor in Sociology at Warwick University, said:

"The targeting of Democratic Party politicians and critics of President Donald Trump by what the FBI believes are domestic terrorists was a shocking development yesterday.

"As the investigation gets underway, there are questions for Trump.

"To what extent has his fiery rhetoric – which on occasion has casually endorsed the use of violence against journalists and broadcasters – contributed to this devastating political moment?

“Will the impact of these ‘attacks’ be felt in the forthcoming Midterm elections? And what might be done to check the threat posed by domestic, far-right terrorists in the USA today?"

25 October 2018

• Dr Smith is available for interview by telephone and Skype today.

CONTACT

Sheila Kiggins

Media Relations Manager

S.Kiggins@warwick.ac.uk

02476 150423

07876 218166