"Trump is appealing to those who sense and experience the breakdown of American society – to deep feelings of anger, fear, frustration, hopelessness, probably among sectors of the population that are seeing an increase in mortality, something unheard of, apart from war," Chomsky said in an interview with Truthout.
But while Chomsky is no Trump supporter, he doesn’t have kind words for Clinton either, given her family history.
"One of [former president Bill] Clinton’s crimes in my opinion – and there were many – was to expand NATO to the East, in violation of a firm pledge to Gorbachev by his [Clinton’s] predecessors after Gorbachev made the astonishing concession to allow a united Germany to join a hostile military alliance.
"These very serious provocations were carried forward by Bush, along with a posture of aggressive militarism which, as predicted, elicited strong reactions from Russia. But American redlines are already placed on Russia’s borders."
Hillary Clinton would likely follow her husband’s path, according to the acclaimed author.
"But by and large European elites have preferred passivity, following pretty much in Washington’s footsteps," he said
NATO has dramatically increased its presence in Eastern Europe under President Obama. Citing “Russian aggression,” the alliance has held large-scale military exercises in the region and increased deployments in the Baltic countries.
"Based on the advice of our military planners, we will agree to deploy, by rotation, four robust, multinational battalions in the Baltic States and in Poland," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday.
"This will send a clear signal that NATO stands ready to defend any ally."
Chomsky also pointed out Bill Clinton’s role in propping up Turkey.
"Turkey of course has been a very significant US ally, so much so that under Clinton it became the leading recipient of US arms," Chomsky said. "Clinton poured arms into Turkey to help it carry out a vast campaign of murder, destruction, and terror against its Kurdish minority."
