You write: "They all share certain characteristics, however: They are staunchly anti-liberal and opposed to democracy. They are obsessed with restoring dominance over the forces of “woke” social justice activism and curtailing the influence of democratizing ideas and practices. They are all embracing increasingly radical forms of authoritarian rule to reach their goals." I agree with this, and the thesis of your piece. I'd like to highlight in context of political violence, dominance, and authoritarian rule, that capturing the Supreme Court has encouraged this fascistic project to promulgate under the guise and cover of the legal system. And that by doing so, SCOTUS also has enabled and encouraged wholescale violence - against women in particular via Dobbs, against LGBTQ+ people by encoding discrimination, against incarcerated people via death penalty rulings, against school children (and all of us) with gun-friendly decisions. While not explicitly "political", the reactionary right-wing justices have seamlessly fitted themselves into the fascistic Trumpian project and dressed it in robes.
Oh, definitely - this broader rightwing counter-mobilization has a fascistic arm (that’s Trump), but it also has a judicial arm, and a media / propaganda arm…
I'm amazed you were able to write such a clear analysis of the US facist movement as currently led by Trump, while not once using the term "white supremacy" which has always been the main motivation for that US facist movement. Not a criticism by any means, I just found it interesting.
Re: Trump's Fascism - it is amazing how far his non-stop wall-to-wall lying has gotten him. As a Canadian I am sick with worry over what is happening in the U.S. right now. The United States is still the most powerful nation in the world, and in history, but Trump and the Christian right have successfully destablized the American democratic system. We are watching from afar to see whether or not democracy and America itself will survive this onslaught. The idea that the election, at this point, is a toss-up is terrifying.
In the America that is, and likely the America to be, these people in most of their varieties are simply losers. They lost the 20th century. And, oh, how they feel it! Doesn't make them much less dangerous, but they are not 10 feet tall.
Note the similarities between Trump's recent speeches and other fascists with this interactive guide. Notice the targeting of minorities and threats of forced deportations.
You write: "They all share certain characteristics, however: They are staunchly anti-liberal and opposed to democracy. They are obsessed with restoring dominance over the forces of “woke” social justice activism and curtailing the influence of democratizing ideas and practices. They are all embracing increasingly radical forms of authoritarian rule to reach their goals." I agree with this, and the thesis of your piece. I'd like to highlight in context of political violence, dominance, and authoritarian rule, that capturing the Supreme Court has encouraged this fascistic project to promulgate under the guise and cover of the legal system. And that by doing so, SCOTUS also has enabled and encouraged wholescale violence - against women in particular via Dobbs, against LGBTQ+ people by encoding discrimination, against incarcerated people via death penalty rulings, against school children (and all of us) with gun-friendly decisions. While not explicitly "political", the reactionary right-wing justices have seamlessly fitted themselves into the fascistic Trumpian project and dressed it in robes.
Oh, definitely - this broader rightwing counter-mobilization has a fascistic arm (that’s Trump), but it also has a judicial arm, and a media / propaganda arm…
Thank you. Very well thought out and articulated.
Finally yesterday on Charlemagne The God podcast, Harris agreed to call Trump a fascist. Glad the sugar coating is starting to cease.
FELICES DONALD TRUMP
Excellent explanation. It is the best I have read on this subject. Thank you!
I'm amazed you were able to write such a clear analysis of the US facist movement as currently led by Trump, while not once using the term "white supremacy" which has always been the main motivation for that US facist movement. Not a criticism by any means, I just found it interesting.
Re: Trump's Fascism - it is amazing how far his non-stop wall-to-wall lying has gotten him. As a Canadian I am sick with worry over what is happening in the U.S. right now. The United States is still the most powerful nation in the world, and in history, but Trump and the Christian right have successfully destablized the American democratic system. We are watching from afar to see whether or not democracy and America itself will survive this onslaught. The idea that the election, at this point, is a toss-up is terrifying.
In the America that is, and likely the America to be, these people in most of their varieties are simply losers. They lost the 20th century. And, oh, how they feel it! Doesn't make them much less dangerous, but they are not 10 feet tall.
"trump is too fickle and too flaky to be an actual fascist and too erratic to be a credible authoritarian". However, his henchman are not.
To be clear, that quote is not from me - that is from a David Runciman piece in The Guardian, and I am explicitly rejecting this analysis in my piece.
Spot on Thomas! Thank you for your work.
Note the similarities between Trump's recent speeches and other fascists with this interactive guide. Notice the targeting of minorities and threats of forced deportations.
https://thedemlabs.org/2024/10/14/trump-demonizes-immigrants-minorities-fascist-project-2025-playbook/