Donald Trump is using the same tactics as Hitler (left) and Hungarian Fascist Viktor Orbán to undermine Democracy, according to a New York Times video. (Photo: IM collage)
Donald Trump’s Fascistic tendencies, revealed in the political tactics he’s using to solidify national support, should send chills up the spines of Americans, according to new video published by The New York Times.
The danger is in the normalization of the same tactics that gave rise to the Nazi Party and Hitler in Germany, Benito Mussolini in Italy and modern day Fascist movements in Turkey, Russia, Hungary and elsewhere, says Jason Stanley, a philosophy professor at Yale University, who narrates the video.
“It might seem like an exaggeration to call Trump a Fascist… But I want you to reflect of a moment on his words, his political tactics, on his rhetoric, if you will,” says Stanley, who has studied Fascist propaganda for the past decade.
“If you use history and philosophy as a guide, It’s easy to see parallels between Trump’s words and the most reviled Fascists in history. That scares me and it should scare you , too.” he adds.
The formula for Fascism is simple. First, conjure of a vision of an idyllic past that has been destroy by liberals, communists or Jews.
It should come as no surprise that Hungarian Fascist Viktor Orbán is using the same rhetoric as Trump. He also proclaims that he wants to make Hungary great, again, Trump’s 2016 campaign slogan.
“Fascists create and overwhelming sense of nostalgia for a past that is racially pure, traditional and patriarchal. Fascist leaders position themselves as father figures and strongmen,” he explains.
“As long as he–and yes, it’s always a he–remains in power, everything is possible. Without him, the whole system collapses,” Stanley continues.
During an interview with “Fox and Friends” on Fox News, Trump made the very same point about himself. “I tell you what, if I ever got impeached, the market would crash, I think everybody would be very poor,” he said.
Once a mythic past is created, the next move in the Fascist agenda is to sow division, a divide-and-conquer scheme that Hitler used effectively in Germany.
Trump has demonized immigrants with his now infamous claim that rapists are crossing the border bringing drugs and crime. He’s also exaggerated the impact of Latin gang MS-13.
“When you divide, it’s easier to control,” he warns.
The final element is propaganda. Once Fascism has taken root, it spread by attacking the truth. At is root is anti-intellectualism.
“They can make anything look bad, because they are the fake, fake, disgusting news,” Trump proclaimed attacking mainstream journalism institutions.
“Facists attack the truth, because truth is central to a free Democracy,” Stanley says. “This environment creates a petri dish for conspiracy theories.”
Sound familiar? Now here’s the biggest danger of all. “If you’re not worried about encroaching Fascism in America, before long, it will feel normal,” he warns.
Check out the video below.