I don't think Trump is a racist.
He has too many blacks in his organization, some of them in positions of power.
But I do believe he wants racist votes and he panders to racists because he needs them to push his other agendas.
No, I'm not covering for him, I'm condemning him for being WORSE than racist. A racist's opinions, no matter how evil or mistaken, are based on some kind of logic or reasoning that, in his mind at least, justifies them. In Trump's case, his pandering to racists is purely an attempt to solidify his position in his base and ensure his re-election. He's worse than wrong, he's mercenary.