White supremacy and white nationalism have been on the rise in recent years.

Since 2017, the number of white nationalist hate groups has increased by 55%,according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

(Courtesy of Christian Picciolini)

(Courtesy of Christian Picciolini)

(Courtesy of Christian Picciolini)

(Courtesy of Christian Picciolini)

“When I was recruited 30 years ago, it was very much a face-to-face interaction to be recruited. It was handing somebody a pamphlet, inviting them to a meeting, sitting in a dark alley and having these conversations,” he said. “And quite literally now, in the age that we’re in, the internet has become that digital alley that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as an all-you-can-eat hate buffet, if you want it to be.”

Since his inauguration in 2017, critics have called out Trump for messaging and policies that they say act as kindling for white supremacist groups.

Most recently on June 28, Trump retweeted — and later deleted — a video of a supporter yelling “white power,” a racist slogan used by white nationalists.

Picciolini says he isn’t sure whether Trump is ignorant or complicit with this kind of messaging. But he says when taken with the president’s policies, the rhetoric shows a clear pattern.

“The fact remains is that it’s a pattern that still demeans people, it still dehumanizes people, it still creates the polarization and fear that we are dealing with today,” he said.