Monash experts: What Andrew Tate’s return to the US tells us about Trump’s broligarchy

Monash University Media Release

‘Manfluencer’ Andrew Tate and brother Tristan, who are both facing human trafficking and rape charges, have arrived back in the US after travel restrictions against them were lifted. The return is raising questions about US President Donald Trump’s use of power and influence to protect his wealthy, male allies.

Dr Stephanie Wescott, Lecturer, Monash School of Education Culture and Society says:

“Donald Trump’s presidency has made the world exceedingly less safe for women. Although he denies involvement in facilitating Andrew and Tristan Tate’s exit from Romania to Florida, the timing is coincidental in aligning with Trump assuming office.

“We saw the broligarchy exploiting its networks of power and influence in aiding Trump’s electoral win, including his appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast and Elon Musk’s monetary and public support, and we see the broligarchy continue its work in aiding the release of the Tate brothers. Their arrival in the US will signal to many watching that the Tates are innocent, that they have been wrongly accused, and that their victims are calculating and dishonest. This is a pattern we have also seen in how Trump has treated his accusers, and one that will enable the dismissal of women’s safety, of their claims to justice and their right to make accusations against violent men.

“Just as we observed a rise in abuse of women online following Trump’s election, the release of the Tate brothers will surely provoke a spike in harassment and abuse, and will give permission for public statements decrying the injustice perpetrated against the Tate brothers by the Romanian justice system.

“It is crucially important that we continue to refer to the Tates as alleged rapists and human traffickers, and to emphasise the harm their content and ideology has caused to countless women.”

Steven Roberts, Professor and Head of Monash School of Education, Culture and Society says:

“Despite facing charges for rape and human trafficking in Romania, the self-professed misogynist and social media masculinity influencer Andrew Tate, and his brother, Tristan, have arrived in the US after having his travel ban lifted. We don’t know for sure, but there is suggestion that some form of pressure from Trump administration representatives has been at play in the decision of the Romanian authorities.

“What we can be more certain of is that there will be discussion of the overlaps between Trump’s policy positions and the views that Tate elevates and espouses. There is an unmistakable alignment of their shared penchant for right-wing populism, anti-immigration outlooks, the revival of ‘strong man’ masculinity hierarchies, and sensationalised digital culture warfare. Similar right wing points have been elevated by Trump’s administration – via Elon Musk – in respect of support of prominent far right activist Tommy Robinson in the UK. In conjunction with Vance and Musk’s uplifting of the far right party, AfD, in the recent German elections, a clear pattern is emerging.

“Tate’s arrival on American shores will no doubt result in a lot of analysis. As disheartened as many of us are about any prospective lack of a just process for Tate’s accusers, this moment also offers an opportunity to underscore that the revival of gender power and the sexism that ensues is led and perpetrated by elite, wealthy men who whip up disaffection to bring less advantaged men with them.”

 

 

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