Trump isn't using fascist tactics at all, right?
(1) Demonization of domestic enemies
"Fascism creates a myth of victimhood, that the majority population is in a humiliating decline from a past greatness because of singled-out minority populations. It’s an us-against-them crisis, the myth goes. The targeted racial, ethnic, religious or gender minorities, and the “liberals” who support them, are thus framed as not just opponents but enemies, demonized so the majority can feel justified in hating and repressing them.
In fact,
“Make America Great Again” is the quintessential fascist slogan. It’s a myth that celebrates the good ole days of white supremacy."
"Fascism, going far beyond simple racism, requires the debasement of scapegoats. It insists that the out-groups “deserve” punishment and the in-group should feel the pleasure of inflicting humiliation. (“Ha, ha! Owning the libs!”) The fascist leaders, in turn, praise followers for that crudity and cruelty, releasing them from all constraints of law, reason and decency. (“Let’s go Brandon!”)
Aside from enriching the rich, MAGA policies are overwhelmingly attacks on the out-groups. They are intended to hurt and mock, and thereby satisfy and entertain the right-wing base. The Trump Administration could have enacted positive programs; it could have passed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill, for example. But programs to proactively benefit Americans, even white Americans, were never the point. The GOP
didn’t even write a party platform in 2020, for the first time in 144 years. That’s because their cause had devolved to a fascist cult of white victimhood."
(2) Preposterous lies
"
Fascism relies on outrageous and absurd disinformation, “Orwellian” lies, designed to distort its supporters’ perception of reality, bending “truth” to fit the fascist mythology. Because it is based on lies, fascism must be anti-intellectual, anti-science and anti-logic in order to defend itself, which means it must oppose and attack news media outside its control. Trump’s continuous attacks on the free press, calling them “fake news” and the “enemy of the people” could not be more stereotypically fascist."
"Fascism takes advantage of confirmation bias to reinforce beliefs with indiscriminate lies. In fact, the idea of fascism is that its foundational myths are more truthful than whatever facts stand in the way.
So indiscriminate lies are “truth” to the fascist leader, and they become sincerely believed truths to the followers, with objective reality waved away.
This is Orwellian, akin to “War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength.”
It is a manifestation of the fascist “Big Lie,” generally described as, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” Or, as Madeleine Albright quotes Benito Mussolini, “The crowd doesn’t have to know, all they have to do is believe and submit to being shaped.”
(3) Contempt for democratic institutions
"Fascism encourages contempt for democratic institutions, particularly elections, and the rule of law. Instead, it calls on the majority group to turn over power to a strongman and his lieutenants, while glorifying the use of violence in support of fascist myths and goals.
To persuade people to surrender their democratic power, fascists attack democratic leaders and institutions. "
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Some historians were unwilling to say that the MAGA movement is fascism before January 6, 2021, because violence is a prerequisite of fascism. But now, MAGA acolytes commit, plan or threaten violence all the time. There have been MAGA threats and violence against Democrats and Republicans, against doctors and teachers, against law enforcement and judges.
All of this is unique in American history. It’s true we’ve always had nutcases and extremists, but rank-and-file conservatives have, in prior years, honored our Constitution and democratic traditions. This wholesale rejection of the American system is astonishing and disgraceful.
It is clear that the MAGA movement will stop at nothing because, to them, power is everything.
MAGA is fascism"
