If the thought of Donald Trump becoming the next U.S. president makes you cringe, there might be solid data to back up your reaction.
The Economist's Intelligence Unit released its list of major global risks for April 2016, and Trump is smack dab in the middle. In fact, he's one step above jihadi terrorism.
His militaristic tendencies towards the Middle East (and ban on all Muslim travel to the US) would be a potent recruitment tool for jihadi groups, increasing their threat both within the region and beyond.
Part of the reason why Trump appears on the list has to do with his vague policies, which authors said he consistently revises. The list also mentioned his stance opposing free trade, and his right-wing position on jihadi terrorism and the Middle East. Trump has advocated attacking terrorists' families as a means to combat terrorism, CNN reported. The billionaire has also accused the U.S. of fighting a "politically correct war" that’s too soft on the Islamic State (ISIS).
The Economist also echoed sentiments former secretary of state Hillary Clinton made about Trump's divisive rhetoric as a potential recruiting tool for ISIS.
"His militaristic tendencies towards the Middle East (and ban on all Muslim travel to the US) would be a potent recruitment tool for jihadi groups, increasing their threat both within the region and beyond," it said.
The authors concluded that they don't anticipate Trump will beat current projected Democratic candidate Clinton, and that even if he did, many of his radical proposals would be blocked by U.S. Congress because he's so hated within his own party.
Trump's name appearing on the global risk list is further evidence of the threat of his potential presidency. Twitter users were way ahead of the publication, though. Following the March 8 primaries, they imagined what a Trump presidency would look like.
The general consensus? The apocalypse is nigh.
