Trump is different because he's openly obnoxious, unhindered and obscene, but I believe the U.S. has always operated in this way, from the very beginning, it has been a society of extreme wealth flanked by extreme poverty. Slavery flourished for 250 years unhindered, establishing vast inequities that became entrenched and generational on both ends of the spectrum.
Once slavery was abolished a vast influx of poor white immigrants were recruited to pick up the slack to fuel the fortunes of the ruling class built off of their backs. A nation established and driven by greed with no end in sight, as 95% of Americans still believe they live in the greatest country in the world. God help 'em.