By Mel Gurtov
Fascism in Charge
In his novel The Plot Against America, Philip Roth depicts the rise to the presidency in the late 1930s of Charles Lindbergh, the pilot who made the first transatlantic solo flight. Lindbergh made several trips to Nazi Germany and “expressed quite openly his high regard for Hitler, calling Germany the world’s ‘most interesting nation’ and its leader ‘a great man,’” all while Hitler was in the midst of his pogrom of the Jews. When it was suggested to Lindbergh that, in light of Hitler’s savagery, he return the garish medal given him by Air Marshal Göring, Lindbergh said that would “constitute ‘an unnecessary insult’ to the Nazi leadership.”
Granted that “fascist” has become a very loose term of opprobrium to apply to dictatorial personalities, it’s still worth using, if only to clarify the frightening tendencies of would-be dictators. That means Donald Trump, who has said (like Roth’s Lindbergh) that Hitler “did some good things.” He has never disavowed that belief. Gen. Mark Milley has called Trump a fascist, and Gen. John Kelly, Trump’s former chief of staff, has followed suit. Kelly, in a series of interviews published Oct. 22, said Trump’s behavior fit “into the general definition of fascist.” Trump wanted the “kind of generals Hitler had,” Kelly reported, men who would show Trump the same deference Hitler’s generals showed him.
Elon Musk, Trump’s sidekick, is protected by his enormous wealth. When he channels fascist ideas, he pays no penalty. To wit (CNN, Oct. 21): “ Musk invoked the names of two German Nazis in a tweet . . . attempting, as he so often does, to make a joke. . . . Musk was responding to a Der Spiegel article that compared him to a media mogul who helped Hitler climb to power.” A month earlier, Musk promoted Tucker Carlson’s widely condemned interview with a Nazi apologist who said the murder of Jews in concentration camps was “humane” and that Winston Churchill was the “chief villain” of World War II. Musk later deleted his X post; but he called the interview “very interesting” and “worth watching.”
Now, thanks to an exclusive report by the Wall Street Journal, we also know that Musk and Vladimir Putin, a fellow fascist, have regularly talked, and not just about the weather. Musk’s favors to Russia include allowing Russian disinformation on X. Keep in mind that Musk has a top-secret security clearance for his SpaceX satellites, has poured huge sums into Trump’s campaign, and has been promised a high position in a Trump presidency. Fiona Hill, a top adviser to Trump on Russia who broke with him over Ukraine, said of Musk in a recent interview that his ambitions are mindboggling:
“He seeks to not just get contracts from the state, but to try to capture the state, which is, frankly, what he’s doing in supporting Trump’s election.
Musk is hoping to actually own the state. He sees Trump, obviously, as a pathway to power.”
To Hill, what binds Trump, Musk, and Putin is oligarchy: “Their interactions are all about them figuring out how to exercise power together.” The dire consequences for America and the world hardly need spelling out.
The Nightmare
Kamala Harris promised a new generation of leadership. What we just got is something entirely different. As the conservative writer Daniel McCarthy triumphantly puts it: “Mr. Trump’s victory amounts to a public vote of no confidence in the leaders and institutions that have shaped American life since the end of the Cold War 35 years ago.” Now, he says, Trump promises to “recreate the nation’s institutions under a new set of standards that would better serve American citizens.” That’s a sly way of bidding adieu to democracy. New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu was a bit more forthright. Asked on CNN before the election if he would support someone whom General Kelly described as a fascist, Sununu said: “I think most of America is gonna go this way.” Sununu saw no problem with a Hitler-admiring fascist in charge of the country. Millions of our fellow citizens apparently agree, though they would justify their vote by saying “it’s the economy.”
Our worst nightmare has now happened: fascism with popular support. Trump and his sycophants dominate all three branches of government. The notion of checks and balances is out the window. Christian nationalism is ascendant, strongman rule is the claimed mandate, and going after “enemies of the people” will be a priority after January 20.
It’s all in the Project 2025 playbook. We already have a glimpse at what lies ahead: the Washington Post and the LA Times bending to their billionaire owners’ decision not to endorse Kamala. Be prepared for Trump’s version of Kristallnacht: MAGA-ites ransacking media offices, hauling Democratic opponents and disloyal Republicans before Trump-appointed judges, tolerating widespread displays of antisemitism and racism, eliminating reproductive and other women’s rights, attacking environmental and human rights groups, and removing thousands of Deep State civil servants. “We have met the enemy, and they is us,” as Pogo said.
Mel Gurtov, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Portland State University and blogs at In the Human Interest.
