Just before the November 2020 presidential election, Dr. Mark Thompson, a philosophy professor at Yale University and the author of Understanding Authoritarianism, discussed on NPR the erosion of democratic norms in the U.S., particularly under Donald Trump’s influence. His remarks struck a chord, especially when he characterized fascism as “a leader-centric movement that promises national revival in response to perceived humiliation caused by supposed threats from communists, Marxists, minorities, and immigrants.”
Reading that definition, it was impossible not to reflect on the rise of Trumpism—a term that has emerged in recent years. Despite ongoing scandals and revealing accounts from former insiders, Trump’s supporters remain steadfast, seemingly impervious to the truth. I recall listening to Dr. Thompson’s interview and feeling a deep concern about the possibility of enduring Trumpism for another four years.
Now, in late November, Joe Biden has been declared the winner, yet Trump continues to reject this reality. Earlier this week, he begrudgingly accepted the decision by Sarah Long, the administrator of the General Services Administration, to initiate the transition process. However, he made it clear via social media that he would persist in his “good fight,” a euphemism for his futile attempts to alter the election outcome.
Trump has clung to the presidency through various legal maneuvers, casting doubt on the integrity of our election system and labeling every state that didn’t vote for him as fraudulent. Astonishingly, millions of individuals—then and now—are willing to accept his misguided claims. I am perplexed by how so many can believe Trump’s allegations of voter fraud when credible news outlets and state officials consistently challenge him. Dr. Thompson provided an intriguing insight into this phenomenon, attributing it largely to Trump’s use of fascist strategies.
“Fascist politics turns political discourse into a battlefield,” Dr. Thompson explained in a follow-up interview. “In such a setting, truth becomes irrelevant; your opponent is viewed as an enemy who poses a threat. If your leader propagates falsehoods, that’s acceptable because they’re fighting for your cause. This leads to the delegitimization of the media, which is painted as part of a conspiracy against the nation. Consequently, blind faith in the leader becomes essential.” This explains why, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Trump’s followers remain unwavering in their support. They refuse to remove their Trump flags and now perceive the entire electoral process as a sham.
The rhetoric of war in politics is detrimental to America’s historical commitment to free and fair elections. It was evident that Trump’s refusal to guarantee a peaceful transition of power before the election was laying the groundwork for a contested outcome, a strategy that aligns with fascist tendencies.
Dr. Thompson noted, “From Trump’s perspective, he has had a clear strategy to reject any unfavorable election results for months. He intended to leverage COVID denialism among his supporters to establish a lead on Election Day, declare victory prematurely, and then employ the tactics we are witnessing now. That plan, however, has backfired.” Thus, we witness his desperate efforts to overturn the election results.
Reflect back to the night of November 3rd, 2020. Many states that ultimately went blue due to absentee ballots initially reported red results. In the early hours of November 4th, Trump proclaimed victory despite millions of absentee votes still pending. Like many Americans, I went to bed that night filled with dread about the prospect of four more years under Trump.
Now, despite established news organizations and state authorities asserting that there is no evidence of election fraud, millions of Americans cling to Trump’s unfounded claims. This is because Trump has transformed the election narrative into one of warfare, where even those who speak the truth are viewed as adversaries.
The unfortunate reality is that this “enemy” is not a foreign adversary; it’s fellow Americans—friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. This is precisely why Trump’s attempts to subvert the election are perilous. It breeds division among Americans at a time when unity is most crucial.
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Summary:
This article examines how Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election mirror tactics associated with fascism. By portraying the electoral process as a battleground and delegitimizing opposing voices, Trump has fostered a culture of distrust and division among Americans. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, millions continue to support his unfounded claims, revealing the dangerous implications for unity in the nation.