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People use the term fascist because it describes a lot of what the administration says and plans to do.
For one example, compare Steven Miller's speech at Charlie Kirk's memorial with this speech given by Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi minister of propaganda.
Trump consistently "jokes" about being a dictator, or running for a third term, or similar things.
He threatens to invade our allies.
He sends people to camps with no due process, and doesn't even keep records of who was sent where.
He's working on consolidating power in the executive branch.
Umberto Eco, a prominent scholar on fascism, summarized fascism in 14 points: (Source: https://www.openculture.com/2024/11/umberto-ecos-list-of-the-14-common-features-of-fascism.html)
The MAGA movement is rooted in making things like the old days, and rejecting modernism.
"Thinking is a form of emasculation" - Trump and the MAGA movement have spent years attacking higher education, public education as a whole,
Disagreement is treason - Every time a judge rules against his administration, Trump attacks the judge. He's been trying to strip anyone who isn't a loyalist from the executive branch.
Fear of difference - "The first appeal of a fascist or prematurely fascist movement is an appeal against the intruders." - Very present here. They constantly use dehumanizing language to talk about outgroups.
Appeal to Social Frustration - He appeals to the economic hardship of his base, but doesn't give any meaningful solutions, and turns their anger towards outgroups.
The obsession with a plot - A huge part of Trump's campaign was about fighting against the 'deep state', a shadowy group consisting of Trump's enemies.
The enemy is both strong and weak - trans people are weak and emasculated, but also savage monsters. Immigrants are lazy rapists, but also will take your jobs away.
Pacifism is trafficking with the enemy - (I don't have an example for this one)
Contempt for the weak - See Elon calling disabled people a "parasite class". See Trump calling prisoners of war "losers and suckers".
Everybody is educated to become a hero - (I'm not sure if this one fits. I guess this one could be the idolization of the military and police?)
Machismo and weaponry - both of these are very present in MAGA
Selective Populism - Trump claims that he has an overwhelming mandate, that most people agree with him, when this isn't really true. He
Ur-fascism speaks newspeak - This one doesn't really fit
Yeah, like you said, that’s Ur-Fascism, aka an academic definition they came up with in the 90’s that can apply to a lot of things if you squint right.
The historical definition of Fascism is:
Fascism is not merely a system of government; it is a system of thought. For the Fascist, everything is in the State, and nothing human or spiritual exists, much less has value, outside the State. In this sense, Fascism is totalitarian.
For Fascism, the State is absolute, individuals and groups relative. Individuals and groups are admissible only in so far as they come within the State.
Regardless, what does this have to do with ICE deporting people illegally? Any country that deports illegals is fascist?
I am responding to your insinuation that calling Trump fascist is a call to violence.
People use that word because they think it's an accurate description of the things he's been doing.
I do not think deporting illegal immigrants makes someone fascist. I did not claim that. The statement of yours I initially responded to said nothing about illegal immigrants. It was about the use of the word fascist.
To respond to the definition you provided:
Where are you getting that definition of Fascism?
I've found a number of definitions online, but I can't find the one you're quoting.
Maybe I'm just searching the wrong things, but I can't find any source for it.
What makes it the authoritative definition? Does it come from a notable scholar or something?
“Call to violence”
No, I’m assuming that if someone actually believes a true Fascist, Hitler-esque takeover is happening, I’d expect a vigorous response to remove them from power. That’s the traditional way to remove Fascists from power.
“Accurate”
Yes, because they’re using Ur-Fascism from the 90’s as some sort of historical standard. When you can look at those points and apply them to many different groups.
“Notable scholar”
My guy.
This is like you arguing about communism’s definition, my quoting Marx and you wondering what obscure scholar would say such a thing.
The second quote is from Mussolini, who knew a thing or two about Fascism.
The first is from Giovanni Gentile, widely considered the godfather of Fascism.
But I’m sure you know better than them.
I couldn't find a source, and you didn't provide one. I wanted to see where your definition came from, as I wasn't familiar with the source of the quote. My cursory online search didn't turn up any results, so I asked you for the source.
(I only searched quotes from the first paragraph, and didn't find any results. I assumed the two quotes were from the same source, and so didn't look up any quotes from the second source. That was due to a lack of research rigor on my part.)
Thank you for providing your sources.
I'm sorry for being dismissive. I was wrong.
I should have done more research before responding like that.
And I appreciate that, fair enough. For some reason people can quote Marx but despite talking incessantly about Fascism, have no idea what the original Fascists said that Fascism was.
Orwell’s quote about Fascism was pretty spot on.