Perspective 151. Trump as a Fascist: Going Too Far?

Recently two of those who worked most closely with Donald Trump as president, backed by 13 other former top aides, have applied the F-word – Fascist – to the Donald. But this label, associated with Mussolini and Hitler, is truly hideous; maybe it’s a bridge too far?

No. Donald J. Trump has clearly earned the right to be counted among the would-be fascists of the world. He sees presidential power as potentially unlimited, calls for the prosecution and even execution of his opponents, wants to silence unfriendly media, and would deploy the U.S. military against protesters (“Shoot them in the legs”). His strongest backers have prepared a detailed blueprint (Project 2025) for realizing this nightmare.

In perspective, Merriam-Webster defines fascism as a philosophy, movement, or regime “that exalts nation and often race above the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible suppression of opposition.” Trump’s mindset meets all of these criteria:

Exalting nation and race. Trump: “Illegal immigration is poisoning the blood of our nation. They’re coming from prisons, from mental institutions — from all over the world.”

Centralized autocratic government. Trump: “This Massive Fraud [his empty claim of a stolen 2020 election] allows for the termination of all rules, regulations and articles, even those found in the Constitution.”

Dictatorial leader. Trump: ““When somebody is the president of the United States, the authority is total and that’s the way it’s got to be,”

Severe regimentation. Trump: If elected, Christian-related concerns will be "fixed" so that "You won’t have to do it anymore. Four more years, you know what? It’ll be fixed, it’ll be fine. You won’t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians.”

Suppression of opposition. Trump: “The bigger problem is the enemy within . . . . it should be easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard or if really necessary, by the military."

Since his campaign began in 2022, Trump has made more than 100 threats to prosecute, imprison, or otherwise punish his critics, openly calling it “retribution.” Among those threatened are Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and the judges and prosecutors in indictments brought against him. He would even go after U.S. Capitol Police who were attacked on Jan. 6, 2021: “The cops should be charged and the protesters should be freed.”

As for suppression of “hostile” media, in imitation of Putin and others he has at various times called for the FCC to suspend the broadcast licenses of NBC, CBS, and ABC.

Small wonder that some honest folk who worked closest to Trump have pointed out that the emperor has no clothes. Maybe someday Mike Pence and Mitch McConnell will speak out. Meantime we have the word of Gen. Mark Milley, who served Trump as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: “No one has ever been as dangerous to this country as Donald Trump. Now I realize he’s a total fascist.”

In response, Trump accused Milley of treason, and bleated that “in times gone by, the punishment would have DEATH!”

Add to that recent statement by John Kelly, Trump’s longest-serving Chief of Staff, that Trump met the definition of a fascist and that he had no understanding of the Constitution or the rule of law: “He certainly prefers the dictator approach to government.” Kelly also confirmed numerous previous accounts of Trump’s disdain for disabled veterans and his view of fallen soldiers as “losers” and “suckers.”

Kelly was backed up in a letter from 13 other former Trump administration officials, who also noted the Donald’s appreciation of Adolf: “Trump’s disdain for the American military and admiration for dictators like Hitler is rooted in his desire for absolute, unchecked power.”

It can’t happen here? Ah, but Project 2025, published by the far-right Heritage Foundation, lays out precisely, in its 920 pages, how to go about it. Trump was stymied by stubborn law-abiding civil servants the first time around, but it won’t happen the second time.

Trump tries to distance himself from Project 2025, but this is his crowd and he has yet to disown anything in this ominous playbook.

The key elements (as outlined by the Center for American Progress):

Presidential take-over of the Department of Justice. No more nonsense about the tradition of an independent DOJ that prosecutes according to the law; the president will decide whom to prosecute. Thanks to the Supreme Court, already captured by the far right, current and former presidents are now largely immune anyway. But the president would be able to pursue the hundred or more public figures he has already threatened, plus any future enemies.

Presidential control of independent agencies. The independence of hitherto independent regulatory agencies would be terminated by simple legislation. Thus the president could, for example, threaten termination of broadcast licenses through control of the Federal Communications Commission.

Purging the civil service. A future President Trump would reinstate Schedule F, an attempt by the former President Trump to remove the job protections of some 50,000 civil servants. In preparation, Trump loyalists are developing a huge bank of Trump loyalists as replacements. The criterion for inclusion? A pledge of belief that the 2020 election was stolen.

Giving the president power to impound appropriations. President Nixon tried to block the spending of funds legally appropriated by Congress, but Congress erected guardrails to prevent this. Project 2025 wants to restore presidential impoundment, meaning that the president could kill any agency or program at will.

Weakening independent media. Apart from control of the FCC, the president could also threaten antitrust investigations of unfriendly media, limit access of the press corps, end funding of NPR and PBS, and turn other agencies into presidential propaganda channels.

Invoking the Insurrection Act. This act, dating back to 1792 and last revised in 1871, gives the president authority to use military force in cases of “insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy.” It has rarely been used in modern times, and there is a strong tradition against using U.S. armed forces domestically. But a recent court case opens the door to such measures when “a single attendee at a mass protest commits an illegal act.”

Bypassing Senatorial confirmation of high-level appointees. In theory, flooding the government with Trump loyalists would be contained at higher levels by the requirement of confirmation by the Senate. But Project 2025 has a way around that: designate all such appointees as “acting” officials not requiring confirmation.

A respected colleague recently wrote that when would-be dictators openly state their (fascist) intentions in advance, we should believe them.

This is the statement of intent. It’s time to believe.