The company you keep
There’s a comparison that has been bothering me and that I wanted to learn more about. How people like Donald Trump come into power.
I did some reading about history and it was…illuminating. Donald Trump’s entry into the Republican Party seemed to change its policies a bit in many areas, there has been something of a split between the more traditional economic conservatives and the enthusiastic party of Trump — while sort of separate, there is still a necessary political relationship. Support the Republican Party and you are part of the party of Trump.
How did we get here?
The Trump party’s policies are deliberately vague so they might appeal to as many people as possible. “Make America Great Again” doesn’t mean any one particular thing, it means whatever the listener wants it to mean. When was America great? What made it great? What does ‘great’ mean? What could make it great again? Those are all questions never answered because A) It seems few people bothered to ask, and B) because the Trump party wanted to keep it deliberately vague.
People across the political spectrum joined the Trump party because they agreed with at least one of their policies:
- An aim to abolish the “unfair punishment” of Americans through treaties with allies and outsourcing of labor to other countries.
- Promises of increased employment.
- Opposition to “socialism” — the Trump party positions themselves as the only credible right-wing alternative to left-wing parties and policies.
- Belief in the supremacy of white people.
- The promise to boost the military.
- Trump’s hatred of immigrants strikes a chord as a convenient scapegoat for America’s problems.
The Trump party focuses on being their own center of communication and works to denounce any source of information that is not directly produced by them.
- Mass rallies led by Trump with attendees chanting en masse slogans like, “Lock her up!” “Send her back!” and “Build the wall!”
- An intertwined relationship with Fox “News” — Donald Trump is given regular, unfettered air time on the network, their opinion personalities such as Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity use their airtime to sing the praises of Donald Trump and many Fox personalities leave for positions in the Trump administration.
- Propaganda such as the letters from Donald Trump sent with desperately needed food aid during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Working to silence the critics of those who oppose Donald Trump and his messaging. From executive orders designed to punish companies who fact check his words to frivolous libel and defamation lawsuits designed to abuse the legal system to silence critics.
The Trump party glommed onto the Republican Party machine which meant they are nationally and locally organized to effectively spread their policies and propaganda. Together, they position themselves as a strong organization — the only people, in fact — who can protect America from its enemies, both internal and external.
As social unrest has increased throughout Donald Trump’s presidency, he has amped up his accusations that critics are “socialists” and “anarchists” to maintain his support. While positioning himself, simultaneously, as a champion of the working man and a successful millionaire taking advantage of “the system.”
In fact, much of Donald Trump’s financial support comes from billionaires who got rich in the world of finance, banking and casinos.
Style
Donald Trump’s bombastic, “no political correctness” style helps him get noticed and often provides cover for officials in the Republican Party to make policy moves.
Trump uses his rallies and his social media feed to tell many Americans what they want to hear — he’s the guy who can solve all their problems, everyone else is wrong and an enemy. He uses short phrases and simplistic language to convey his message.
By the way, if you do a search for much of the information in this article, the first thing that will come up is a historical BBC article on the rise and appeal of the Nazis.
Swap in Donald Trump’s name instead of Adolf Hitler (which is exactly what I did here) and the similarities are many and frightening. Obviously, Trump is not Hitler, this is not a direct comparison. Hitler was a murderous monster who orchestrated the largest genocide in history.
But, if you are a Trump supporter (whether you admit it publicly or not), ask yourself if you would have supported Hitler and the Nazi party. For some Trump supporters, the answer is an enthusiastic YES! For many, it will be an uncomfortable and defensive, “No, but Donald Trump isn’t Hitler and this is different.”
Look at the history, look at the BBC article, simply swap out the name “Trump” for the name “Hitler” above and then realize it might be time to examine your support of this dangerous man and the party that props him up.
America, and the rest of the world, is begging you not to be complicit.
- Thank you, BBC, for producing this informative and eye-opening piece of information: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zsrwjxs/revision/7
- Thank you to the University of Illinois for historical context
