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@wildgrass saidUpon further thought, I can think of two reasons why Trump could be thought of as more fascist than say Reagan:
I suppose maybe there were hints of fascist tendencies among Republicans, and the immigration system was sort of set up to facilitate a concentration camp-like society. But it was previously balanced with diverse ideas, legal constraints and civility. Show me where Reagan called immigrants garbage poisoning our blood. He didn't dehumanize. From what I could remember, Reagan ...[text shortened]... s. The voice is important for things like dehumanizing people, but Trump's actions are also fascist.
1) Reagan's hiring for Cabinet posts and other high government officials were generally well-known conservatives with relevant experience. There's no possibility he would have hired jokes like Hegseth, Kennedy, Gabbard or some of the other clowns that populate Trump II's administration. Their level of groveling subservience and the politicization of virtually every government announcement from their departments fits more into the type of Great Leader adoration required in the public sector of a fascist nations;
2) What Reason magazine calls "Republican Socialism". While Reagan's right wing laissez faire views were fairly consistent, Trump II has moved the US into the type of hands on control typical of fascism (which retains a basically capitalist system):
"In June, Trump demanded (and the federal government received) a so-called golden share in U.S. Steel, which effectively gives the White House veto power over much of the company's future. Two months later, the Trump administration purchased a 10 percent equity stake in Intel, the once-dominant and recently struggling American chipmaker. Similar stakes in at least four other companies followed, including ones that produce nuclear power or mine metals such as lithium and copper that are necessary for building high-tech chips and advanced batteries."
https://reason.com/2025/12/02/republican-socialism/
Fascism is generally described as a "centralized, autocratic government" and it's fairly clear that almost all of Trump's policies are directed to that goal.
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@Rajk999 saidyou could have stopped here:
You support the problem makers. I support the problem solvers.
I know nothing really of this 'fascist' nonsense and these stupid labels you use on people all the time. You are a label-man. I am a fix-it man.
You are a woman, I am a man. We are from different planets.
You create problems, we solve them.
Carry on making some more.
I know nothing really
... but alas you kept going.
Regarding what you call problem solvers:
1) No problem is solved with fascism.
2) Trump's created waaaay more problems than he's solved.
- he ripped up the Iran nuclear deal. 10 years and hundred of billions of dollars later, we're guessing it will be at least 6 months until the Strait of Hormuz is cleared of landmines and safe for commercial travel. The worldwide economic costs are massively high.
- he destroyed academic science in America in about 3 months, and it will take a decade to build it back.
- he made massive increases to the surveillance state that increased the size/scope of government, likely for decades.
- he ballooned the deficit, again.
- he imprisioned tens of thousands of people who haven't committed crimes. Supporters say this "solved" the problem of illegal immigration but it created a festering sore of a new problem that centers on what to do with these people. Detention is very expensive.
I honestly can't think of a single problem he's solved.
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@no1marauder saidTrump is using tariffs to try to force autarky on the USA which is a major theme in fascism. Reagan was obsessed with free trade.
Upon further thought, I can think of two reasons why Trump could be thought of as more fascist than say Reagan:
1) Reagan's hiring for Cabinet posts and other high government officials were generally well-known conservatives with relevant experience. There's no possibility he would have hired jokes like Hegseth, Kennedy, Gabbard or some of the other clowns that populat ...[text shortened]... tic government" and it's fairly clear that almost all of Trump's policies are directed to that goal.
Reagan granted amnesty to illegal immigrants and targeted corrupt businesses. Trump loves big business and fraud and targets the immigrants. Again, Reagan's free trade and law and order vs Trumpist fascism.
I don't think it's accurate to call Trump a fascist. He's corrupt, which is not the same thing.
Trump has no real ideology; he pretends to care about Christianity and abortion, but it's clear he doesn't. Trump simply wants to enrich himself and be loved; he just so happens to find it with right-wingers; Trump spent years hanging out the Democrats like the Clintons, even donating to Kamala Harris, until Obama savagely roasted him at the white house correspondents dinner.
Trump is not fascist because he truly doesn't care about nationalism, religion, etc. He cares about power and money, and realized he can attain this by siding with actual fascists.
@vivify saidEh? He's not a fascist, he's just acting like one as an opportunity to indulge his other tendencies? Not every fascist movement looks the same. There are many definitions, but this one is the best:
I don't think it's accurate to call Trump a fascist. He's corrupt, which is not the same thing.
Trump has no real ideology; he pretends to care about Christianity and abortion, but it's clear he doesn't. Trump simply wants to enrich himself and be loved; he just so happens to find it with right-wingers; Trump spent years hanging out the Democrats like the Clintons, even ...[text shortened]... c. He cares about power and money, and realized he can attain this by siding with actual fascists.
Fascism" An emotional and populist reaction to social change, involving a charismatic leader who emphasis power, traditional values and military strength. Can be seen as a form of ultra-nationalism or far-right. If someone is a ‘fascist’, they typically subscribe to military and state power exercising itself to ‘protect the economy’ and ‘keep the nation strong’.
@no1marauder saidA good post. Building the concentration camps doesn't help. There's one going up near me, it looks like an Amazon warehouse.
Upon further thought, I can think of two reasons why Trump could be thought of as more fascist than say Reagan:
1) Reagan's hiring for Cabinet posts and other high government officials were generally well-known conservatives with relevant experience. There's no possibility he would have hired jokes like Hegseth, Kennedy, Gabbard or some of the other clowns that populat ...[text shortened]... tic government" and it's fairly clear that almost all of Trump's policies are directed to that goal.
@wildgrass saidTrump has many qualities of a fascist, like being dictatorial but he lacks actual ideology.
Eh? He's not a fascist, he's just acting like one as an opportunity to indulge his other tendencies? Not every fascist movement looks the same. There are many definitions, but this one is the best:Fascism" An emotional and populist reaction to social change, involving a charismatic leader who emphasis power, traditional values and military strength. Can be seen as ...[text shortened]... ary and state power exercising itself to ‘protect the economy’ and ‘keep the nation strong’.
Note whenever Trump speaks, it's just rambling or bragging about himself. He never discusses plans for social change, other than broad vague terms like "Make America Great". Trump policies come from those who spend big on his campaign or benefit him financially.
Trump is too wishy-washy to be a fascist. For example, he said he'd vote against Florida's 8-week abortion ban, then changed his stance after conservative backlash. If his base wanted more immigrant-friendly policies, he'd go that direction. He doesn't truly care.
Trump doesn't have genuine convictions about race, social changes or anything. He doesn't care enough to be a fascist.
Still, if he aligns himself with fascists and does their bidding, he's one by default, regardless of his actual feelings.
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@vivify saidThe details on issues don't really matter for fascist ideology and I agree trump doesn't care. Pro abortion, anti abortion, race etc. Genuine convictions don't matter either.
Trump has many qualities of a fascist, like being dictatorial but he lacks actual ideology.
Note whenever Trump speaks, it's just rambling or bragging about himself. He never discusses plans for social change, other than broad, vague terms like "Make America Great". Trump gets his policy ideas those who spend big on his campaign or benefit him financially or politically ...[text shortened]... imself with fascists and does their bidding, he's one by default, regardless of his actual feelings.
Immigrants and DEI were the flavors of the day, so that became the issue. But it could have been any group or any issue. If anything, your description makes trump seem more like a fascist.
@vivify saidBut that description is probably true for Mussolini, Hitler, Franco, Pinochet and other fascist leaders. Ideology was secondary; what mattered is the centralization of power in one individual for nationalist purposes.
Trump has many qualities of a fascist, like being dictatorial but he lacks actual ideology.
Note whenever Trump speaks, it's just rambling or bragging about himself. He never discusses plans for social change, other than broad vague terms like "Make America Great". Trump policies come from those who spend big on his campaign or benefit him financially.
Trump is too w ...[text shortened]... imself with fascists and does their bidding, he's one by default, regardless of his actual feelings.
@AverageJoe1 saidYou should be utterly embarrassed by your slavish devotion to him, enough to lie about him.
Please don’t. Trump’s personality? That is an element of fascism?,!!??
He has ended 7 wars, he has interrupted the plans of Iran, call it what you want, they’ve effectively warred us for long enough. Other presidents danced around ‘something that needed to be done’. They chanted death to us, not to you flower children. ‘Death to Netherlands!’ How does that sound,
S ...[text shortened]... here , espSue, do not even attempt to. Hey, is his orange hair a tip-off? To you, it would be.
@AThousandYoung saidThe right wing libertarian Cato Institute disagreed in 1988:
Trump is using tariffs to try to force autarky on the USA which is a major theme in fascism. Reagan was obsessed with free trade.
Reagan granted amnesty to illegal immigrants and targeted corrupt businesses. Trump loves big business and fraud and targets the immigrants. Again, Reagan's free trade and law and order vs Trumpist fascism.
" Ronald Reagan by his actions has become
the most protectionist president since Herbert Hoover, the heavyweight champion of protectionists"
https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa107.pdf
Check out the section titled "Presidential Deeds" for evidence supporting that statement.
@no1marauder said"For nationalistic purposes". Therein lies the distinction. Trump will and has thrown his own nation under the bus, like when he sided with Putin over U.S. intelligence regarding election interference. I can't see fascists like Xi or Netanyahu disgracing their country like that.
But that description is probably true for Mussolini, Hitler, Franco, Pinochet and other fascist leaders. Ideology was secondary; what mattered is the centralization of power in one individual for nationalist purposes.
Ultimately, this conversation is pure pedantry. Whether Trump meets the technical definition of "fascist" won't change that he's dictatorial and corrupt.
@AverageJoe1 saidEvery time you try to 'what-about' Biden and drag him back into the conversation, you embarrass yourself even more than you already did.
Of America.....blood of AMERICA! Not real blood, like HItler was raving about. (oh, an element of fascism??Raving! Who raved with a high shrill???? Riiiight, Biden). So personalities to not make fascist. Hell look at SHouse posts!! He would make a good one if he had that penchant.
Countries do not have blood, people do. Countries have beliefs, economies, such ...[text shortened]... hat. The Muslims??? Their next move will be to run Minnestoans and UK out and change the beliefs.
Trump is the subject here, the neo-fascism we're talking about, not Biden.
@vivify saidBOO!
Trump has many qualities of a fascist, like being dictatorial but he lacks actual ideology.
Note whenever Trump speaks, it's just rambling or bragging about himself. He never discusses plans for social change, other than broad vague terms like "Make America Great". Trump policies come from those who spend big on his campaign or benefit him financially.
Trump is too w ...[text shortened]... imself with fascists and does their bidding, he's one by default, regardless of his actual feelings.
@vivify saidThis makes more sense than blindly calling Trump fascist along with everyone who does not support them and take their ridiculous extreme stand.
Trump has many qualities of a fascist, like being dictatorial but he lacks actual ideology.
Note whenever Trump speaks, it's just rambling or bragging about himself. He never discusses plans for social change, other than broad vague terms like "Make America Great". Trump policies come from those who spend big on his campaign or benefit him financially.
Trump is too w ...[text shortened]... imself with fascists and does their bidding, he's one by default, regardless of his actual feelings.