In Donald Trump the word ‘fascist’ has regained its original meaning

On February 20, 1939, the walls of New York’s Madison Square Garden, the self-styled “world’s most famous arena”, were festooned with red, white, and blue bunting hung alongside rally-sized swastikas. The occasion was to celebrate the birthday of President George Washington along with the “America First” campaign of the American Nazi movement known as the German American Bund.

The America First rally was in keeping with the Nazi style of the era: the 20,000 attendees were highly disciplined, arms rising in mechanically precise salutes, the stage backed by an array of American flags accompanied by stiffly attentive brown shirts.

Visually, Donald Trump’s rally in the Garden last Sunday was nothing like this, marked instead by the chaotic power of his shambolic personality. But in hatred and intent, it was very much in keeping with its fascist forbear. The New York Times called it “a closing carnival of grievances, misogyny, and racism.” As Jay Michaelson described it in The Forward, 1939’s crowd “sat, sang, and saluted politely, but the speakers and crowd in 2024 were vulgar, crude, and mean-spirited.”

The word ‘fascist’ is thrown around lightly these days, often by those with little understanding of its meaning. To a high school student whose assessment is marked down for missing the deadline, the teacher is a “fascist.” In 2022, Los Angeles mayoral candidate Gina Viola called her opponent “a full-blown fascist” for campaigning to maintain the police budget at then current levels.

Yet, with Donald Trump the label of fascist has regained its original meaning in a manner that should be compelling and frightening to Jews in America and throughout the world, Jews who understand the existential threat fascism poses to our people.

Here’s how four-star Marine General John Kelly, Trump’s longest serving Chief of Staff, described it:

“Looking at the definition of fascism: It’s a far-right authoritarian, ultranationalist political ideology and movement characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hierarchy… ”

“Certainly, the former president is in the far-right area, he’s certainly an authoritarian, admires people who are dictators — he has said that. So, he certainly falls into the general definition of fascist.” Kelly has previously described Trump’s admiration of Hitler and his envy of Hitler’s generals who he [mistakenly] imagines were completely loyal to the Fuhrer.

Kelly is not alone in this assessment. Retired Army General Mark Milley, who was Trump’s chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told journalist Bob Woodward that Trump “is the most dangerous person ever… I now realise he’s a total fascist.”

Take a moment and let those words sink in. These are serious men who do not bandy about words like fascist. And they worked closely with Trump at the highest level.

Trump himself has said that he will be a dictator on day one; that if he is victorious, this will be the last vote his supporters have to take; and that he will mobilise the Justice Department and the military against his political opponents, critical journalists, and those protesting his reign.

Yet, many have dismissed such statements, seeing them as part of his rambling rhetoric, no different from his obsession with Hannibal Lecter, windmills, or exploding electric batteries.

This is what led Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff to declare to a largely Jewish audience in Pittsburgh this week “Believe what you see. Trust the facts staring you in the face… when Donald Trump says something unhinged, do not roll your eyes. Roll up your sleeves.”

Emhoff added “whenever chaos and cruelty are given a green light, Jew hatred is historically not far behind, and Donald Trump is nothing if not an agent of chaos and cruelty.”

Chaos and cruelty were displayed in hi-res at Madison Square Garden last Sunday. One speaker called Puerto Rico, home to three million US citizens, a “floating island of garbage” before going on to mock Hispanics as failing to use birth control, Jews as cheap, and Palestinians as rock-throwers.

Kamala Harris was derided as a low IQ “Samoan Malaysian” (she’s not), likened to a prostitute with “pimp” handlers, and the Antichrist. Trump, the same speaker informed the audience, “knows that Jesus is King.” The undercurrent of Christian Nationalism driving the MAGA movement is rarely expressed so blatantly. Emhoff was called “a crappy Jew.”

Never one to mince words, Trump adviser Stephen Miller, borrowing a nativist slogan from the KKK, stepped up to the podium to declare “America is for Americans and Americans only.”

Trump then took the stage, repeating his pledge to go after “the enemy within” on Day 1 of his prospective administration. In his sights are California Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff, Special Prosecutor Jack Smith, and mainstream media outlets whose licenses he plans to revoke. For Trump, if the media does not praise him, they are his enemy.

Some argue that Trump was not a very effective authoritarian in his first term. They overlook that, as NYT put it “many of his most reckless efforts in his first administration were stymied only because of others in his administration who blocked, delayed or watered down his aims to ensure that he could not put himself above the law or the country. Mr. Trump has learned from that experience to surround himself with supplicants who would instead obey his wishes and bring his words and ideas to life even if they contradict facts, the public interest or the Constitution.”

Next time, Trump will have help rather than hindrance. The right-wing Heritage Foundation has created Project 2025, a 900-page blueprint for a coming MAGA administration. It describes its goal as providing “both a governing agenda and [putting] the right people in place, ready to carry this agenda out on day one of the next conservative administration.” 

In 2025, Trump would have in place the “willing executioners” to put his fascist agenda in motion

How afraid should American Jews be? Trump has long demonstrated his friendliness with the worst sorts of antisemites and with the organised forces of White Supremacy. They were emboldened through his first administration and will be more so in the next. Those liberals and liberal organisations targeted by Trump have an extensive Jewish presence, Jews perhaps not so different from those of us reading TJI.

People repeatedly ask me “but isn’t Trump better for Israel?” Now, my response is, if you want a fascist government in Israel, elect one in the US. But if you want to preserve Israeli democracy and any sense of its founding principles, elect an administration in the US that holds to the democratic principles of its own, albeit flawed, founding documents.

Last week, Doug Emhoff made a campaign stop in Sandy Springs, Georgia where the brewery hosting a campaign event was filled with signs touting Jewish support for Kamala Harris. Emhoff reflected on the recent news of Trump’s fascism and admiration for Hitler. “He is not your friend,” Emhoff concluded forcefully. It can’t get much plainer than that.

RELATED STORIES

How Donald Trump and Kamala Harris differ (and agree) when it comes to Middle East policy  (JTA)
Donald Trump says he will keep Israel safe in a world teeming with threat. Kamala Harris promises to preserve an alliance consistent

Why Jewish Americans can’t agree on racism (JTA)
Like the general population, a sociologist writes, the Jewish community is polarized along religious and political lines.

‘There is a fire in this country’: In major speech, Emhoff will warn of Trump’s threat to Jewish Americans (Forward)
Doug Emhoff’s closing message in the swing state of Pennsylvania will describe Trump as an ‘agent of chaos and cruelty’

Poll shows Israelis massively favour Trump over Harris in US election (Times of Israel)
Channel 12 survey finds 66% prefer Republican candidate; separate poll finds Netanyahu preferred to former PM Bennett as Likud rises amid war successes

Rabbis for Ceasefire urge followers to vote for liberal candidates despite ‘impossible position’ (Forward)
The group of more than 300 rabbis is seeking to reach progressive Jews alienated by Vice President Kamala Harris’s support for Israel

Daughter of Los Angeles Times owner says Harris endorsement was blocked over Gaza war support (CNN)
The daughter of Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong suggested on Saturday that herfather’s decision to block the newspaper’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris was made over Harris’ support for Israel’s war in Gaza.

Trump in Michigan makes play for Arab American and Muslim voters angry over war in Gaza (CNN)
Former President Donald Trump on Saturday invited several Muslim leaders onstage with him at a campaign rally in Michigan as he courts Arab American and Muslim voters disillusioned or angry over US policy on Israel and Gaza in the critical battleground state.

Republicans make a play for Jewish voters in critical Pennsylvania (Guardian)
The party senses a chance to win support from critical voting bloc the Democrats have traditionally relied upon