Trump’s Operational Levels, part 5:

Trumpism = Fascism

by Robert Archerd, August 11, 2020

On MSNBC’s “The Beat,” with Ari Melber, Republican strategist Steve Cortes made the offhand comment that President Trump should have been “more of a fascist” in cracking down on unruly protesters in Portland. He later called the comment “a joke,” adding, “Trump is not a fascist, not even close.”

Also, an old high school classmate, who happens to be a Trump supporter, claimed “liberals are fascists,” mainly based on two different sets of circumstances: (1) liberals at universities protesting the appearance of neo-Nazi speakers, and (2) the so-called “cancel-culture” and its desecration of statues of specific historic figures.

In examining the evidence, starting with a definition of fascism, we see that it fits Donald Trump’s governance methods to a T. Not somewhat, but perfectly: (Oxford) an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization; (Cambridge) a political system based on a very powerful leader, state control of social and economic life, and extreme pride in country and race, with no expression of political disagreement allowed; (Merriam-Webster) a political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition (including the Free Press).