Fascist tendencies in Trump: A comparison to Hitler's rise | DW News

Summary

In an in-depth discussion, historian Timothy Ryback compares Donald Trump's political behavior to the rise of Adolf Hitler, focusing on fascistic tendencies, authoritarian rhetoric, and the erosion of democratic norms. While Ryback refrains from labeling Trump as a full fascist, he highlights alarming similarities in their rejection of defeat, use of media to manipulate public opinion, and embrace of vengeance. Ryback warns of the fragility of democracy, drawing on lessons from history, particularly the fall of the Weimar Republic, urging Americans to stay vigilant in protecting their constitutional freedoms.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ryback acknowledges that Donald Trump displays fascist tendencies but stops short of labeling him a fascist, emphasizing historical nuances.
• 😀 One major fascist trait is an inability to accept defeat, which both Trump and Hitler exhibited in different ways, with Trump echoing Hitler's claims of election fraud.
• 😀 Ryback compares Hitler's political career, noting how Hitler consistently turned defeats into claimed victories, a strategy Trump has used in his own political rhetoric.
• 😀 Trump’s polling numbers are much higher than Hitler's ever were in democratic elections, with Trump reaching around 50% in current polls, compared to Hitler's high of 37%.
• 😀 Trump’s embrace of authoritarianism and his vision of vengeance against political opponents align with fascist traits, though he does not openly call for the destruction of democracy like Hitler did.
• 😀 Ryback discusses the importance of media in shaping political narratives, drawing parallels between Hitler's media manipulation in Nazi Germany and the current U.S. media landscape.
• 😀 The comparison between Trump and Hitler also includes their shared use of hyper-masculinity to project strength, though Ryback notes that Hitler was notably popular among women in his time.
• 😀 The discussion also touches on how both Trump and Hitler utilized democratic processes to subvert democracy, with Trump’s rhetoric aligning with the idea of destroying democracy through democratic means.
• 😀 Ryback is concerned about the potential undermining of U.S. democracy, pointing out that Hitler’s rise to power occurred under the Weimar Republic, which, despite its democratic framework, was ultimately vulnerable to authoritarian forces.
• 😀 One of the key concerns is Trump's repeated rhetoric on vengeance and political retribution, which parallels Hitler’s own rhetoric about purging political opponents, making it a particularly unsettling fascist tendency.
• 😀 Despite the similarities, Ryback notes that the U.S. Constitution provides significant protections, but those safeguards are only as strong as the people's commitment to upholding them against authoritarian threats.

Q & A

What is the central debate surrounding Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential race?

The central debate is whether it is correct to compare Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler or label him as a fascist. Some critics argue that his actions and rhetoric display fascistic tendencies, while others caution against such comparisons.

Does Timothy Ryback consider Donald Trump to be a fascist?

Timothy Ryback does not explicitly label Donald Trump as a fascist, but he acknowledges that Trump exhibits fascistic tendencies, particularly in his authoritarian behavior and rejection of democratic processes.

What is the main fascistic trait that Ryback identifies in both Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler?

The main fascistic trait identified by Ryback is an absolute blindness to defeat and a refusal to accept anything that contradicts their worldview, which both leaders exhibit in their political actions.

How did Adolf Hitler respond to his electoral defeat in 1932, and how does this compare to Trump's reaction to defeat?

In 1932, Hitler lost the presidential election by 6 million votes but claimed election fraud and sought to overturn the results in court. Trump similarly claimed election fraud after the 2020 U.S. presidential election, though he did not take legal action on the same scale.

What significant difference does Ryback point out between Hitler’s and Trump’s electoral support?

Ryback notes that while Hitler's highest electoral support was 37% in 1932, Trump is currently polling around 50%, reflecting a significant difference in public backing.

What is one of the most unsettling aspects of Trump’s political behavior according to Ryback?

One of the most unsettling aspects is Trump’s embrace of authoritarian rule and his rhetoric around vengeance against political opponents, which echoes fascist tendencies.

How did Hitler approach the destruction of democracy, and how does Trump’s rhetoric compare?

Hitler explicitly vowed to destroy democracy through democratic processes. Trump, although not stating this explicitly, often criticizes democratic processes and shows a disdain for checks and balances, signaling a similar threat to democracy.

What concerns does Ryback have regarding the resilience of U.S. constitutional protections?

Ryback is concerned about the ability of U.S. constitutional protections to withstand attacks from a determined autocrat like Trump. He draws a parallel to the Weimar Republic, which had constitutional safeguards but still succumbed to fascism.

How does the media’s role in the U.S. today compare to the Nazi media during Hitler’s rise to power?

Ryback highlights that, like Nazi-controlled media in Germany, U.S. media today is highly polarized, with different outlets presenting vastly different narratives of the same events. This complicates the public’s ability to discern truth from propaganda.

Did Donald Trump study Adolf Hitler, and how does Ryback view Trump’s admiration for Hitler’s generals?

Ryback believes that Trump has not studied Adolf Hitler in depth, though he is aware of Hitler’s rhetoric and political strategies. While Trump expressed admiration for Hitler's generals, Ryback notes that Hitler’s generals had a profound disdain for him, which Trump likely would not have appreciated.