ITV look at the ‘shock & awe’ of Donald Trump’s second presidency

Presenter Robert Moore looks at the second era of Trump America…

America is reeling from the first months of Donald Trump’s second term. Within hours of him taking office, the United States dramatically shifted direction – politically, culturally and economically. But what’s it like for those caught in the eye of Trump’s storm? Award winning journalist Robert Moore travels from coast to coast, meeting people whose lives are changing at an astounding rate.

Just days after the inauguration Robert spends time with Josh Pruitt, a member of the controversial right-wing Proud Boys group – he was convicted for his role in what many considered an attempted insurrection on January 6th 2021, now leaving jail with a full presidential pardon.

The ‘far right’ now emboldened by their new President, as minority groups feel under attack by Trump’s ‘war on woke’. He hears from those who fear civil rights are in jeopardy and travels to an historic African American community that has started its own armed patrols after it was visited by neo-Nazis.

The programme notes that this isn’t just a splintering along racial lines – it’s also about Left versus Right. Robert gains access to a secretive organization, made up of predominantly white liberals, that are in training to defend their communities.

Trump’s campaign focused on his promise to clamp down on immigration and deport dangerous foreign criminals.

Robert follows police on the hunt for criminal illegal immigrants and meets those whose lives were upended when they were suddenly deported. But as an increasing number of political activists are also being seized, he meets people who say that the threat of deportation is being weaponized to silence dissent and spread fear.

Through all this there are still many who embrace Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda and hope the president will push things even further. As both extremes ready themselves for a reckoning they all seem to see coming, where does this end up?

Shock & Awe: Trump’s Return, May 13th at 9 pm on ITV1 and STV. Stream on ITVX and STV Player