I know a man, a competent and intelligent man, who thinks Trump is a fascist. Let us test this hypothesis against the evidence.

First, we must define fascism. Victor Davis Hanson, classicist, military historian, and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, defines fascism -according to Grok – as “an authoritarian fusion of state power, corporate interests, and ideological conformity.” In essence, as practiced by 20^th century exemplars of fascism such as Mussolini or Franco, fascism is an ideology justifying centralized government control over a nation via state-corporate alliances, suppression of dissent, control of the means of communication, and elimination of political opposition by any means necessary. Fascism in short is government by the powerful, for the powerful, and of the powerful.

The Trump Administration has:

• closed the border to illegal immigrants, and has implemented an aggressive deportation program with special focus on  those with a criminal record;

eliminated DEI programs whose purpose was to give priority based on skin color and ethnicity rather than merit;

• sought to prosecute former officials who in its view have broken the law.

These initiatives have been met with ferocious resistance, almost exclusively by Obama and Biden-appointed  judges. In all  cases, the Administration, far from ignoring judicial orders, has complied with them, lawfully seeking reversal of adverse rulings via the appeal process. These behaviors – in stark contrast to the practices of the Biden Administration –are hardly the mark of a fascist.

The real American fascists are Trump’s accusers, the radical  Democratic left. Their actions come directly from the fascists’ playbook:

Destruction of political opponents. Trump was impeached twice; his home was raided; baseless lawsuits were filed to destroy him financially; the Colorado Supreme Court tried to remove him from the ballot.  The legacy media fostered a climate of permission to harm conservatives (Trump, Charlie Kirk), inferring it would not be a bad thing if people like them were killed.

Control of communications to censor and discredit opposing viewpoints and information contrary to the preferred narrative. Examples:

• pressure on social media to suppress “disinformation” or spread false information (Trump a Russian agent; Hunter Biden laptop not real; Biden in good health);
• proclamations that the border is secure while permitting over 10 million illegal aliens to enter the country)

Weaponization of law enforcement and intelligence Examples:

• targeting of political opponents as part of the “Arctic Frost” investigation;
• surveillance of phone records of Republican lawmakers.
• Labeling of certain Catholic Americans as domestic terrorists.

The laundry list of fascist practices by the Democratic left could go on for pages but the overall pattern is clear. Convinced of their moral and intellectual superiority, the fascist left will use any means necessary to seize and keep permanent power in service to their radical agenda They are thrall to the lethal addiction of self-righteousness and lust for power. Their long march for dominion will not be stopped by reason.

Contrary to the leftist elites who control the media, the the schools, especially the universities, most federal and state bureaucracies, and the entertainment industry, most Americans – I think – still believe that the people flourish when living by the principles of America’s founding fathers: individual liberty, protection of property rights, limited government, separation of powers, rule of law, free markets, free speech, freedom of religion, opportunity based on individual merit, love of county. Over the past eighty years or so, the relentless assault on these principles has weakened America’s instinctive pride, patriotism, self -confidence, and can-do spirit.

Our young people are taught to disparage America. The basic narrative is that it is evil. They should be taught the truth that compared to any other country, or for that matter any society in the history of civilization, no nation has done more to give each individual the opportunity – but not the guarantee – to make the best of themselves. Yes, The United States was cursed with the original sin of slavery, but we have spent the last 160 years making amends. Is there any place on the planet where African Americans have better prospects? No.

The United States uniquely combines love of liberty and the values of the Judeo-Christian tradition with its concern for the well-being of one’s fellow man. But the American body politic has become infected with the poisonous ideas of post modernism whose core idea is that the only relationships that matter are power relationships and those who are superior (by their own assessment) should rule. The radical left which now controls the Democratic party divides the world into victims and victimizers and conclude – wait for it – they should be given power to right all wrongs. The do not think America is great; in their view our values should be suppressed and our power-limiting institutions and practices torn down,

What must traditional Americans do?

1. The first step is to recognize that our America is under threat from an implacable domestic adversary. Whether we like it or not, we are already in a civil war. It is an intellectual civil war, a war of ideas.

 

2. Speak up. The time for politeness is over. Follow the Charlie Kirk example. By all means, be civil, but ignore the usual slurs – you are a bigot, a racist, a “phobe” of some sort. Like any other institution designed by man, the US is imperfect, but fundamentally we are a good and great country and we must loudly and proudly stand up for it.

 

3. I have been amazed to learn that if all Americans who shared the values, attitudes, and traditions of our Founders were to vote, the radical left would be swamped, reduced to electoral irrelevancy. Leftists tend to be activists; most of the rest of us want to do business and be left alone.

These are small steps, but if followed by enough people, they could have a huge impact.

We no longer have the luxury of not concerning ourselves with the left’s control of  the institutions with the greatest power to shape our opinions and control us. The spirit of America has to stir before it is smothered. If we do, we can and will take back control.