The New York Times, which is seen as an ally of the Biden administration, has recently drawn comparisons between the former president’s rhetoric and that of historical dictators like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.
In an article titled “Trump’s Dire Words Raise New Fears About His Authoritarian Bent,” the New York Times argues that if the former president were to be re-elected in 2024, he would prosecute his political opponents.
NYT upping their dystopian fanfic again. If Trump's truly an authoritarian, maybe don't amplify his voice? Oh wait, that sells papers. #Irony https://t.co/nDuzMTaOyL
— NewsBusters (@newsbusters) November 25, 2023
What’s noteworthy about this New York Times article is its failure to acknowledge the Biden administration’s alleged manipulation of the Justice Department to target Trump, their leading political opponent.
Nevertheless, the left-leaning publication references a recent Veterans Day speech by the former president as an example of rhetoric reminiscent of Hitler and Mussolini in the 1930s. The article quotes Mr. Trump using language that characterized his political adversaries as “vermin” to be “rooted out.”
This shift towards an inward focus has raised concerns among experts on autocracy who have long been troubled by Mr. Trump’s admiration for foreign dictators and his apparent disdain for democratic principles. They argue that the former president’s growing emphasis on perceived internal enemies mirrors the behavior of dangerous totalitarian leaders.
The New York Times goes on to cite Democrats and Never Trumpers who claim that the former president’s rhetoric is becoming “more fascist-sounding,” as reported by NewsBusters.
The article also features an anti-Trump professor at New York University, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, who has frequently appeared in the media to draw comparisons between the former president and Hitler. She suggests that a second Trump administration would resemble Nazi Germany’s “Fourth Reich,” a notion that has not materialized.
“There are echoes of fascist rhetoric, and they’re very precise,” Ben-Ghiat asserts. “The overall strategy is an obvious one of dehumanizing people so that the public will not have as much of an outcry at the things that you want to do.”
The New York Times even contemplates the possibility that Trump’s political resurgence could signal “a revival of fascism.” However, it is important to note that acts of fascism involve government prosecution of political opponents, the confiscation of law-abiding citizens’ firearms, a media dedicated to indoctrination, and the manipulation of history, among other actions. Under Trump’s tenure, none of these actions took place, but the same cannot be said today.