Is Donald Trump a fascist? Another day, another reminder that November’s presidential election could be the last ever to be held in America. Can anyone be persuaded to care?
The (alarming) elephant in the room
Is Donald Trump a fascist? Another day, another reminder that November's presidential election could be the last ever to be held in America. Can anyone be persuaded to care?
The headline "Trump shocks with scandalous comments" might hardly seem worth writing any more. What more can he really say to shock us?
But there was something different about comments he made on Sunday in a Fox NewsAmerica's biggest cable news channel, with an average total prime time audience of 2.6 million viewers. It is generally believed to have a strong right-wing bias. interview.
In the interview, he stated that if there is any disorder on election day, it will be the fault of "the enemy from within", specifically "sick people, radical-left lunatics". And he suggested that they should be "handled, if necessary, by National GuardPart of the USA's military reserve. , or if really necessary, by the military".1
Why is this setting off alarm bells? Because most experts believe the abuse of military power to suppress domestic political opponents is one of the foremost signs of fascismA political ideology that rose to power in 20th-Century Europe. It stressed militarism and order over personal freedom, and often divided society according to racial hierarchies..
One of the most influential definitions of fascism was written by Italian thinker Umberto EcoAn Italian medieval historian and philosopher who died in 2016. , who listed 14 properties of fascism. A number of them echo in Trump's behaviour.
First there is "Disagreement is treason": the idea that criticism of Trump is not simply a question of disagreement with his ideas, but a conspiracy to destroy him. Little wonder he is so ready to use military force to stamp out opposition.
Then there is "fear of difference". For his entire political career, Trump has isolated minority groups and suggested they do not belong in America, especially LatinosSomeone of Latin American origin or descent - a term most often used in the USA. and Muslims.3
Another of Eco's criteria was an "appeal to a frustrated middle classPeople of middling incomes and advanced education, whose consent is generally essential to propping up any state.", and Trump's support does mostly come from reasonably well-off Americans whose incomes have slightly declined.4
After this comes "obsession with plots": Trump has diverted much of his campaign funding to recruiting 100,000 "election observers", because he wants his supporters to believe that without this, his enemies will conspire to rig the election against him.5
Additionally, fascists often portray their opponents as at once "too strong and too weak". Trump habitually portrays Joe Biden as a confused old man who does not know what he is doing, but then also suggests he is a criminal mastermind capable of manipulating the entire legal system to persecute Trump and his supporters.
Linked with this is "contempt for the weak": Trump's supporters present his liberal critics as physically feeble and degenerate. So too is "machismoStrong or aggressive masculinity. An exaggerated version of masculinity. ": Trump portrays himself as an alpha maleThe dominant male animal in a social group. with little respect for women.
To achieve these aims, fascists have generally needed immense military power. Most have either won the military over to their project before taking power, purged it after taking power or merged it with their own paramilitaryAn unofficial group organised like a military force. forces.
Last week, Trump implied he might attempt something similar, putting out a new advert decrying the "wokeAwareness of injustice in society, particularly related to sexism and racism. military" and announcing a new taskforce to monitor generals for signs of ideological fault.
But others say fascism is not a useful label for understanding Trump. One key feature of fascism in the past was its need for constant war and expansionism.
One of Trump's most important appeals to middle America, in contrast, is that he will end the USA's constant embroilment in foreign conflicts and stop sending money to support overseas alliesAn ally is someone that aligns with and supports a cause with another individual or group of people..
In this sense he is more in the mould of traditional American isolationists. That is why some think we should see him not as a fascist on the European model, but a homegrown populistThe term comes from the People's Party, which operated in the USA in the 1890s. Now, it is often used to refer to any movement that makes a distinction between the "people" and the corrupt "establishment". that US democracy can survive.
Is Donald Trump a fascist?
Yes: Trump is more vindictive and more determined to hold on to power than he was during his last presidency. When he says he is willing to use military force to stamp out his opposition we should believe him.
No: Many US leaders have been charismatic strongmen playing hard and fast with constitutional rules, like Franklin RooseveltThe only US president ever to have served more than 2 terms. Many regard him as one of the greatest presidents in history, although he has been criticised since his own time for what have been seen as dictatorial tendencies., and Trump himself. Democracy always survives.
Or... Whether or not Trump is truly a fascist in the same way as Hitler or Mussolini is irrelevant. He remains the single most significant threat to US democracy.
Keywords
Fox News - America's biggest cable news channel, with an average total prime time audience of 2.6 million viewers. It is generally believed to have a strong right-wing bias.
National Guard - Part of the USA's military reserve.
Fascism - A political ideology that rose to power in 20th-Century Europe. It stressed militarism and order over personal freedom, and often divided society according to racial hierarchies.
Umberto Eco - An Italian medieval historian and philosopher who died in 2016.
Latinos - Someone of Latin American origin or descent - a term most often used in the USA.
Middle class - People of middling incomes and advanced education, whose consent is generally essential to propping up any state.
Machismo - Strong or aggressive masculinity. An exaggerated version of masculinity.
Alpha male - The dominant male animal in a social group.
Paramilitary - An unofficial group organised like a military force.
Woke - Awareness of injustice in society, particularly related to sexism and racism.
allies - An ally is someone that aligns with and supports a cause with another individual or group of people.
Populist - The term comes from the People's Party, which operated in the USA in the 1890s. Now, it is often used to refer to any movement that makes a distinction between the "people" and the corrupt "establishment".
Franklin Roosevelt - The only US president ever to have served more than 2 terms. Many regard him as one of the greatest presidents in history, although he has been criticised since his own time for what have been seen as dictatorial tendencies.
The (alarming) elephant in the room
Glossary
Fox News - America’s biggest cable news channel, with an average total prime time audience of 2.6 million viewers. It is generally believed to have a strong right-wing bias.
National Guard - Part of the USA's military reserve.
Fascism - A political ideology that rose to power in 20th-Century Europe. It stressed militarism and order over personal freedom, and often divided society according to racial hierarchies.
Umberto Eco - An Italian medieval historian and philosopher who died in 2016.
Latinos - Someone of Latin American origin or descent — a term most often used in the USA.
Middle class - People of middling incomes and advanced education, whose consent is generally essential to propping up any state.
Machismo - Strong or aggressive masculinity. An exaggerated version of masculinity.
Alpha male - The dominant male animal in a social group.
Paramilitary - An unofficial group organised like a military force.
Woke - Awareness of injustice in society, particularly related to sexism and racism.
allies - An ally is someone that aligns with and supports a cause with another individual or group of people.
Populist - The term comes from the People's Party, which operated in the USA in the 1890s. Now, it is often used to refer to any movement that makes a distinction between the "people" and the corrupt "establishment".
Franklin Roosevelt - The only US president ever to have served more than 2 terms. Many regard him as one of the greatest presidents in history, although he has been criticised since his own time for what have been seen as dictatorial tendencies.