For year’s, Trump has used the language of dictators using such phrases as ” enemy of the people” ( referring to the press), “retribution”, and suggesting political violence against political opponents. However, more recently he is sounding darker. He has announced an extreme plan to weaponize the government to carry out the revenge he seeks on former allies. The Washington Post ( Nov. 13, 2023) has reported Trump’s language directly mimicks that of Adolph Hitler:
- Trump likens his political opponents to “vermin” and suggests they represent a “threat from within” that is more dangerous than threats from beyond our borders.” Both are themes seized upon by brutal dictators.” ( Hitler’s original comment: “1) “Should I not also have the right to eliminate millions of an inferior race that multiplies like vermin?”
- Trump suggested that the vermin be ” rooted out” a term Hitler used about the Jews; Hitler said, “While the flower of the nation’s manhood was dying at the front, there was time enough at home at least to exterminate this vermin,” when referring to the Jews.
- He dehumanizes people and suggests that these “sinister” internal forces present the greatest threat to our country.” The purpose of this Hitler-like rhetoric is to instill fear as a justification for violence or incarceration. Like Hitler, Trump speaks of his opponents, immigrants, an democrats as ” sunhuman” . By calling them beasts, animals, vermin a narrative is developed to get rid of people and leaving only the ” superior” race.
- Referring to immigrants, Trump has said, ” they are poisoning the blood of our country. They are destroying our country.” He has called them, diseased, rapists, and thugs. Scare tactics are used to incite violence.
