In recent years, numerous commentators and scholars have labeled Donald Trump as a fascist. Initially, I refrained from using this term. I believed it had been misused and overused, and as a historian specializing in Nazi Germany, I didn’t see Trumpism as comparable to fascism. I still maintain that Trump’s presidency wasn’t fascist, but I am concerned that if he secures another term, he may earn that label.
Fascism was best embodied by Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. Their regimes were characterized by totalitarian dictatorship, imperialistic wars, and in Hitler’s case, genocide, targeting Jews, Slavs, and Roma. Comparing Trumpism to these regimes seemed trivializing and misleading. Instead, I argued that Trump resembled leaders like Viktor Orbán of Hungary and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, categorizing him as an “illiberal populist” rather than a fascist. One crucial difference between Trump and the European fascists was their militarism and imperialistic ambitions, which Trump lacked. Throughout his first term, he displayed little interest in pursuing such goals. He sought camaraderie with Vladimir Putin, engaged in correspondence with Kim Jong Un, signed agreements with the Taliban, and criticized NATO and South Korean allies for not meeting financial obligations.
Even recently, Trump has maintained an isolationist stance, condemning “globalists” and making provocative remarks about Ukraine and Taiwan. Despite inflicting significant damage on America’s political culture, promoting polarization, and embracing falsehoods, the Trump presidency did exhibit elements of fascist-style politics, such as inflammatory rallies, fearmongering, endorsement of violence, conspiracy theories, cruelty, targeting marginalized groups, and cultivating a cult of personality. However, Trump’s lack of expansionist ambitions distinguished him from 20th-century fascism.
Furthermore, Trump was too lazy, inexperienced, and ill-prepared to build a true dictatorship systematically. His focus was primarily on attention and adulation rather than implementing plans and programs. Until the last few weeks of his term, American democracy held strong. Despite democratic backsliding, it did not collapse. However, in a second term, a more emboldened Trump could pose a threat to democracy itself. The MAGA Republican Party has explored tactics to solidify their control in states, transforming them into one-party regimes. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, a potential rival for the 2024 Republican nomination, has demonstrated how an authoritarian leader can maximize executive power.
Just as state Republicans have become more autocratic, a second Trump presidency would be focused on accomplishing goals at the federal level. Their aim is to dramatically alter the administrative state, purge or politicize government agencies and civil service, and carry out retribution against enemies. The “unitary executive” theory endorsed by some Republicans would become a reality of unabashed authoritarianism.
The final months of Trump’s presidency foreshadowed what a second term would entail. When former loyalists like Attorney General William Barr and Defense Secretary Mark Esper demonstrated their commitment to upholding the Constitution, Trump sought individuals who wouldn’t hesitate to cross constitutional lines. In a new Trump administration, allegiance to the leader would be the sole qualification for appointment.
Unlike past fascist leaders who embraced war, Trump still seeks appeasement with foreign dictators but promises a much closer dictatorship at home. In my opinion, what Trump is offering for his second term meets the threshold, and I would label it as “isolationist fascism.” Until now, such a concept seemed contradictory, without historical precedent. Trump continues to defy expectations.
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