This book presents nativism – the notion that foreign-born immigrants are not "real" Americans – as the leading ideological feature of American politics. Clifford Young and Kirby Goidel offer a rigorous and operational definition of nativism that, in combination with original survey data, explores public attitudes about who counts as an American.

They explain the economic, demographic, and cultural circumstances that cause this condition to break through and demonstrate its distinguishing policy preferences. Not only do the authors define the US as a Nativist Nation historically, they also show how it has profoundly affected contemporary politics.

Specifically, they look at the primary elections in 2015–2016, during which Donal Trump tapped into a wellspring of nativist sentiment and found a receptive audience thanks to bold rhetoric.