Trump and the Republican party exemplify these five elements of fascism

[BidenPresident]

How do we describe what Trump wants for America?

“Authoritarianism” isn’t adequate. It is fascism. Fascism stands for a coherent set of ideas different from – and more dangerous than – authoritarianism.

To fight those ideas, it’s necessary to be aware of what they are and how they fit together.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/17/trump-republican-party-fascism

 

[Tinkerpeach]

A fascist leader doesn’t need to ask Congress for permission

 

[BidenPresident]

A fascist leader doesn’t need to ask Congress for permission

Or dissolves Congress.

 

[BidenPresident]

1. The rejection of democracy, the rule of law and equal rights under the law in favo

“The election was stolen.” (Trump, 2020)

“I am your justice … I am your retribution.” (Trump, 2023)

Authoritarians believe society needs strong leaders to maintain stability. They vest in a dictator the power to maintain social order through the use of force (armies, police, militia) and bureaucracy.

By contrast, fascists view strong leaders as the means of discovering what society needs. They regard the leader as the embodiment of society, the voice of the people.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/17/trump-republican-party-fascism

 

[BidenPresident]

2. The galvanizing of popular rage against cultural elites.

“Your enemies” are “media elites”, … “the elites who led us from one financial and foreign policy disaster to another”. (Trump, 2015, 2016)

Authoritarians do not stir people up against establishment elites. They use or co-opt those elites to gain and maintain power.

By contrast, fascists galvanize public rage at presumed (or imaginary) cultural elites and use mass rage to gain and maintain power. They stir up grievances against those elites for supposedly displacing average people and seek revenge. In doing so, they create mass parties. They often encourage violence.