IMO there is no doubt that Trump is a racist. That he ran for president at all is (again IMO) only because he was triggered by Obama's roasting him at some awards dinner (I don't remember which one).

That being said, this problem didn't start with Trump.

Reagan was a virulent racist, as well as being anti gay. As governor in California - in the 60s! - he took his racist views to the White House in 1980.

But even before Reagan became president the CIA assassinated JFK. That ended civilian rule over the military in the US. THAT was when the country started going downhill.

Since JFK's assassination no president has resisted the call to war. US wars are fought mostly by young black and brown men. Those black and brown men are kept poor and/or in prison to provide very few opportunities for legal improvement of their social position.

Poor and middle-class US whites are now suffering as brown and black US citizens have suffered since the founding of the country. This became really noticeable in the last 15 years. It was clear since the 90s (Clinton), but really got going in the 80s (Reagan).

This did NOT start with Trump. Trump is the white reaction to what started in the 60s.