The phrase “watching a train wreck in slow motion” never felt more real than it does now. For me, the parallels with Hitler or Stalin are not about fascism or politics but simply about people willing to accept a person with unacceptable character flaws as a leader of any sort.
As someone who also lives in Poland and also studies the Nazi period, WWII, and the Holocaust, it has been extremely clear to me that trump's rhetoric is closely, if not at times exactly, aligned to Hitler's rhetoric. I am not so sure about fascism, but definitely authoritarian. His rhetoric and him as a person are also a perfect text book example of a malignant narcissist (I am a psychologist). At this point, neither label for trump is in question for me. They have been proven by the person himself every day. Which is has bought me in recent times to ask trump supporters why? Why do you follow/ vote/ revere this person who is so abhorrent?? Interesting for me is that they acknowledge his flaws, even Ben Shapero recently did the same. But what comes next is the important part. Such people simply state - but he represents the policies I believe in. And thats it! Or "were you better off under trump or the last 4 years?" So there is a drive to ignore his authoritarianism because he will implement their interests. There is an ignoring of the significant threat the person represents, not only to the USA, but also the world, simply because he will do what they want. Again, another complete parallel behaviour in Germany from 1932 to at least 1939!
The phrase “watching a train wreck in slow motion” never felt more real than it does now. For me, the parallels with Hitler or Stalin are not about fascism or politics but simply about people willing to accept a person with unacceptable character flaws as a leader of any sort.
Yes
As someone who also lives in Poland and also studies the Nazi period, WWII, and the Holocaust, it has been extremely clear to me that trump's rhetoric is closely, if not at times exactly, aligned to Hitler's rhetoric. I am not so sure about fascism, but definitely authoritarian. His rhetoric and him as a person are also a perfect text book example of a malignant narcissist (I am a psychologist). At this point, neither label for trump is in question for me. They have been proven by the person himself every day. Which is has bought me in recent times to ask trump supporters why? Why do you follow/ vote/ revere this person who is so abhorrent?? Interesting for me is that they acknowledge his flaws, even Ben Shapero recently did the same. But what comes next is the important part. Such people simply state - but he represents the policies I believe in. And thats it! Or "were you better off under trump or the last 4 years?" So there is a drive to ignore his authoritarianism because he will implement their interests. There is an ignoring of the significant threat the person represents, not only to the USA, but also the world, simply because he will do what they want. Again, another complete parallel behaviour in Germany from 1932 to at least 1939!
George Conway has been making the case for the malignant narcissist label for years.
Also made compellingly in the documentaries "Unfit" and "Untruth".
Of course, people happy to see this language always forget that they will eventually be called vermin as well at some point.
I'm a subscriber to The Atlantic, largely to support your work and several others there.
For a while, I've said these people ignore history because they think they can do fascism right this time. I hope Americans choose wisely.
Vermin’s are Destroying Palestine !
But the Queen Bee is lonely in USA ! ….maybe she will find refuge in an alien PoisonComb !