Is Donald Trump a Fascist?
The ANTIFA people certainly think so. As well, there are many in the left-of-centre media who regularly assert that Trump is a fascist.
Regarding the voting public, a poll taken by Ipsos and ABC News in October, 2024 revealed that a whopping 24% of registered voters considered him to be a fascist. See here.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-fascist-concerns-poll/story?id=115083795
So, is he a fascist? Answering this question requires that we ask the question, "What is a "fascist"?
Below are the main characteristics of "fascism", and an analysis of whether or not they apply to Donald Trump and his government. A grade out of 10 is applied to each characteristic - all debatable, of course. (With thanks to the analysis at https://osbcontent.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/PC-00466.pdf. However, the board at mewetre.blogspot.com has added a few characteristics that this analysis misses that are crucial to an understanding of fascism, which are added at 15 and 16.)
1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
This could apply to America and to most Americans. There is nothing unique about Donald Trump regarding this first characteristic. 8 out of 10 for the entire country, and Trump.
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
Trump's approach to illegal immigrants and others sees these people denied some basic legal process rights. While disturbing, this is pretty minor compared to what actual fascist regimes do, which is torture "undesirables" or line people up against a wall and shoot them. In an American context, the denial of due process rights to some persons seems fascist, and is certainly out of line. However, for real fascists, it is laughable. 2 out of 10.
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
Trump has used hate against identifiable groups as a prime motivator and unifier of members of his MAGA tribe. This is often overtly racist. It is his major political modus operandi. 10 out of 10.
4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
Again, this is not just Trump, it is the entire country. If you are reading this, you are likely starting to notice a trend, which is that it isn't just Trump who exhibits at least some fascist characteristics, but the United States itself. The military is essentially venerated in that country. 10 out of 10 for the entire country, and Trump.
5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.
Is Trump the sexist, or has he tapped into rampant sexism within the United States itself? In fact, it's both. 9 out of 10 for Trump and the Republican Party.
6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
Can you say hello to Fox and Truth Social?
Media control is not absolute as the United States has Freedom of the Press, and swathes of US media are controlled by Trump's opposition. Because of this, outright government censorship is almost non-existent. Nonetheless, there is no question that Trump and his minions control huge sections of the media landscape in the USA, with Trump himself having his own personal electronic bully pulpit. 7 out of 10.
7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
Fearmongering is as American as apple pie. There is no United States Government that has not and does not do this, whether Republican or Democrat. This is an American characteristic, not just a Trump one. 8 out of 10 for the entire country, and Trump.
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
The American approach to religion is encapsulated in the idea that religious worship is a personal matter, and there should be a 100% separation between church and state. This is the state of affairs in the United States where religion, in an of itself, has no virtually role in the public affairs of the nation.
However, Republicans are almost constantly trying to introduce this into the public sphere, including requiring the Ten Commandments in schools, and asking that religious-based interpretations of how the Earth was formed be taught in schools, amongst other things. This is not new - think of the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925. Trump himself is not a religious person, in fact, one may think of the word "sinner" when he comes to mind. He has allowed for some religious discourse to enter the lexicon of his government, and he has certainly not spoken out against attempts by Republicans to introduce religion into public affairs.
In assessing this characteristic against Trump himself, we need to admit that he doesn't give a hoot about this, and his support of religious Republicans is actually tepid, at best. He is not trying to turn the USA into a Christian nation. (This might change if he saw how much cash televangelists rake in!) 2 out of 10.
9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite. (Note - this needs to be modified. In a truly fascist country, private enterprise is subservient to the state, which only exists to protect and enhance the nation. Private owners do not control the direction of their businesses, but follow the direction given by the state. Any private business person who thwarts the state loses their private holdings as a matter of course. See 15 below.)
OMG! It is arguable that this man is in government for the sole purpose of personal enrichment as well as the enrichment of the economic class from which he was spawned. The state does not control business in America but that aspect is covered in 15 below. For the grift, give Trump 10 out of 10.
10. Labor Power is Suppressed Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed .
Unions in the USA have been under siege for decades. This is not really about fascism, but about monopoly capitalism and oligarchy. Trump's assault on illegal immigrants will ironically strengthen organized labour in America by removing a group of workers who have bid down the price of labour for at least a generation. He isn't a fan of unions, but regardless of his railing against unions, his concern isn't really political, it's economic. 3 out of 10.
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.
Free expression has arguably been under assault in higher education in the USA for years, both from the Left and Right, depending on the institution. There has been an obvious party line in certain institutions which has been rigorously enforced to the detriment of open debate - detractors are ostracized; their careers destroyed.
Donald Trump's assault on higher education is seemingly about reversing totalitarian tendencies in certain specific institutions. In fact, he likely doesn't give a rat's ass about free speech, but these institutions are the hotbed of many of his most vocal critics, so he has taken them on very aggressively. This isn't about fascism; this is personal for him. 2 out of 10.
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
Again, this is American as apple pie and the electric chair. There is no national police force in America. The vast majority of police follow laws regarding the use of force. Civil liberties are, in the main, protected by the courts.
Trump's assault on illegal immigrants and stationing of the military in some cities to protect federal property are unprecedented in the modern era, and do show fascist tendencies. However, while worrisome, this is not nearly at the level that one would find in a truly fascist country, and his efforts are rather tame compared to what an archetypal fascist would do. 3 out of 10.
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
It's good to be the king! Trump is in power for the sole purpose of taking care of himself and his cronies. There is no grift like it! 10 out of 10.
14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
Did Trump really lose the 2020 presidential election? Yes. While both the Democrats and Republicans try to cheat, in the main, elections are free and fair in the USA. This simply doesn't happen in fascist countries.
But what about Trump?
He loves the grift that he can foist on his country from being President of the United States. He has little respect for American democracy, happily benefitting from Russian interference to gain office in 2016. He relentlessly smears his opponents, but to be fair, this is normal for almost all American politicians now, he just does it better than anyone else.
This is the most disturbing aspect of this analysis...
Expect Trump to try to stay on for a third term, or to refuse to leave office at the end of his term after declaring a national emergency. To preempt the Conclusion below, he's a grifter, not really a fascist, but from the perspective of democracy, the effect is the same. 10 out of 10.
15. Supremacy of the State - The state is the primary tool of fascists for the manifestation and propagation of the nation. This sees the state involved in all aspects of life in the community: from children's clubs and civic organizations; to all aspects of economic life including state direction of private enterprise; to control of media; to positive portrayals of the nation in the arts which are 100% controlled by the state. The nation is supreme. The state only exists for the nation, and the state is everywhere in everything.
This is not America, and is not Donald Trump. While America has fascist tendencies, it's obsession with seeing the state as antithetical to personal freedom separates America from actual fascist countries. These people do take individual freedom seriously. They are not fascists. 0 out of 10.
16. Cult of Personality - Fascist countries are lead by great leaders who cultivate a cult of personality, with those leaders seen as the embodiment of the nation that is at the core of fascism.
10 out 0f 10. No further comment required.
Conclusion: So is Donald Trump a fascist?
He certainly has fascist tendencies, especially related to characteristics such as the cult of personality; American nationalism and militarism; racism via the scapegoating of certain groups; his treatment of democracy; and most importantly, because of the grift, and the fact that he runs the country primarily for himself and his buddies. But he simply does not meet the test of it comes to crucial aspects such as the need for a national police force to enforce the will of the state, and most importantly, the role of the state itself.
It is this last issue that is crucial - simply put, if someone doesn't favour inserting the state into literally every aspect of life in order to protect and enhance the the life of the nation, then they aren't a fascist.
Think of Italy under Mussolini or Spain under Franco. The state completely dominated all aspects of life in those countries to make the nation come alive. Those men were fascists, and as such would rate close to 10 out of 10 on all aspects noted above.
Trump simply doesn't score the same, especially on the issue of the role of the state. The reason for this should be crystal clear. No business person would agree that the state should direct their business affairs for any reason. Trump is a businessman first; everything else second. Fascism is bad for business, so he isn't an fascist.
So what is he?
Again, he is a businessman! But not just any businessman - he is a shockingly crooked businessman!
See here...not paying small business people...
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/06/09/donald-trump-unpaid-bills-republican-president-laswuits/85297274/
And here...bankruptcies screwing investors out of their cash...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2016/live-updates/general-election/real-time-fact-checking-and-analysis-of-the-first-presidential-debate/fact-check-has-trump-declared-bankruptcy-four-or-six-times/
And more recently, here...grift and conflicts of interest while in office...
https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/crew-is-tracking-trumps-unprecedented-corruption-again/
He's not a fascist.
He's arguably just a crook enjoying the greatest grift ever!
But let's be fair, the Clintons weren't exactly paragons of virtue.
Reality - many of them are "on the take", he's just better at it than the others, and he tends toward aspects of fascism to keep the grift alive.
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