Okay, this is me trying to talk about something without any snarkiness or condescension – which is very, very hard for me.
But – since Trump returned to office, I have a lot more people hate-following me – so, I want to speak directly to his supporters. I hope they will hear me out.
We need to talk about authoritarianism and fascism, because these words get thrown around a lot, but most people don’t really seem to understand what they mean. And with everything happening in politics right now, we need to get clear on this.
So, what exactly is authoritarianism?
Authoritarianism is like that toxic boss you’ve probably had – you know the one. They make all the rules, they never want to hear your input, and if you dare to question them, suddenly you’re the problem. That’s authoritarianism in a nutshell – it’s all about control and power, and they really don’t care about your rights or following the rules themselves.
Authoritarians, historically, want total control and don’t care much for things like personal freedoms, checks and balances, or democratic norms. They prioritize power over laws and don’t like being challenged.
Now, what is fascism?
Fascism is a specific type of authoritarianism. It’s a mix of extreme nationalism (believing the country and its people are superior), a strong leader with total power, and often a belief that certain groups of people are the “enemy” who must be controlled, removed, or blamed for society’s problems. It also tends to suppress free speech, control the media, and glorify violence as a way to solve problems.
So, we should all be able to agree that Trump’s actions closely resemble that of a fascist dictator. Why?
First off, Trump has this thing about wanting to stay in power no matter what. Remember when he wouldn’t accept losing the election? That’s not normal president behavior – that’s authoritarian 101. He basically tried to tell election officials to “find” votes. That’s not how democracy works.
Then there’s how he treats anyone who challenges him. Media reports something he doesn’t like? “Fake news.” Courts rule against him? They’re corrupt. FBI investigates him? They’re deep state enemies. See the pattern? He’s trying to make it so only he can be trusted.
And let’s talk about how he handles opposition. He doesn’t just disagree with people – he wants them locked up. Remember all those “lock her up” chants? And January 6th? That wasn’t just a protest gone wrong – that was political violence being encouraged from the top.
Here’s the really concerning part – and this is where the fascism accusations come in. Trump has this playbook of always needing someone to blame. It’s immigrants, or minorities, or Democrats, or whoever he can point at and say “they’re the reason things are bad.” That’s straight out of the fascist handbook – find a group to scapegoat and keep people angry at them.
And the way he uses information? It’s not just lying – it’s about creating a whole different reality. Real news becomes fake news, his lies become “alternative facts,” and suddenly truth is whatever he says it is.
Still not convinced? Let’s use some logic.
Not, like “common sense” kind of logic, but syllogistic logic – the kind they teach in college as part of a Philosophy degree (fun fact: that was originally my major) – also known as deductive reasoning.
In this case, the argument follows a classic categorical syllogism structure:
- Premise 1: An authoritarian leader seeks total control, disregards democratic norms, undermines institutions, embraces strongman tactics, and suppresses opposition.
- Premise 2: A fascist leader combines authoritarianism with extreme nationalism, scapegoating, political violence, and propaganda.
- Premise 3: If a leader’s actions fit the definitions of both authoritarianism and fascism, then that leader is a fascist authoritarian.
- Premise 4: Donald Trump’s actions include disregarding democratic norms, undermining institutions, praising dictators, encouraging political violence, scapegoating certain groups, and spreading propaganda.
- Conclusion: Therefore, Donald Trump is a fascist authoritarian.
The point is – the above is not an opinion. Syllogistic logic is more akin to a math problem than an opinion.
Words have specific definitions. Even if people misuse them, their true meanings aren’t as interpretable as you think. You might approve or disapprove of someone’s actions – but we should all be able to agree on what someone’s actions are.
These actions are not debatable:
- Trump disregards democratic norms – he’s openly talked about wanting to stay in power longer than legally allowed, refused to accept election results, and tried to pressure officials to change votes in his favor.
- He undermines institutions – whether it’s attacking the courts, the press, or law enforcement (when they investigate him), he pushes the idea that only he can be trusted.
- He embraces strongman tactics – he praises dictators, suggests his opponents should be jailed, and encourages political violence (Jan. 6 being the most obvious example).
- He fuels division and scapegoating – he constantly blames immigrants, minorities, or political enemies for the country’s problems, which is a classic fascist move.
- He uses propaganda and disinformation – from calling real news “fake” to spreading blatant lies, he tries to control the narrative and create a reality where only his version of events is true.
Therefore, by the very definition of authoritarianism and fascism – Trump is a fascist authoritarian. This isn’t my opinion – it’s a fact.
Look, I know some of you are probably thinking “here’s another liberal trying to tell me what to think.” But that’s exactly what I’m not doing. I’m showing you how to think about this logically.
If someone acts like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck – we don’t need to debate whether they’re a duck. We can see it. It’s not an opinion – it’s an observation.
When someone’s actions perfectly match the definition of something – that’s not politics anymore. That’s just math.