Member-only story
Politics | World History | Fascism
Fascist Dictatorship is Not a Laughing Matter
Are we really at the point where we need to explain that?
What would you say if someone asked you if you wanted to be a dictator?
One would hope you would immediately say ‘no’. Maybe you’d laugh, maybe you’d make a little joke out of it to lighten the mood, you know. But you would, hopefully, say ‘no’.
If you were a Presidential hopeful, if you were campaigning to take the seat at the head of the table for the Republican Party before the general election, you would definitely say ‘no’. You’re supposed to be emphasizing your love of democracy and freedom, after all.
If you were a Presidential hopeful who had previously been accused of authoritarian rhetoric, fascist policies, and who had been criticised for failing to denounce white supremacists and praising dictators…you really, really should say ‘no’.
You definitely shouldn’t respond to the question of, “You won’t be a dictator, right?” with “Only on day one!” Especially if the next thing you say is that your first plan is to close the borders. Not a great look.
But when Donald Trump did exactly that, something horrifying happened. The audience didn’t laugh as if he’d said something funny.
They cheered as if he’d said something they wanted to hear.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. It was a joke, Fox News said it was.
Here’s the thing: no it wasn’t. And you know it wasn’t, so stop pretending that it was. We all know who Donald Trump is. His repeated praise of dictators and strongmen is a matter of public record.
For years, Trump has been making comments like this and his supporters have brushed it off as an easily baited public freaking out over nothing.
Then January 6th happened. Suddenly it’s not so funny anymore, is it? Suddenly, it’s sounding an awful lot like a genuine call to arms.
