As the 2020 presidential election approached, Dr. Alex Reed, a philosophy professor at Harvard University and author of The Mechanics of Authoritarianism, shared his thoughts on NPR about the United States’ declining democratic integrity, primarily attributing the trend to Donald Trump. He articulated a definition of fascism that struck a chord with many: “a devotion to a leader who pledges national revival amid perceived humiliation caused by supposed communists, Marxists, minorities, and immigrants threatening the nation’s identity and legacy.”
Reading that definition, it was impossible not to draw parallels to Trumpism, a term that gained traction just four years prior. Despite numerous scandals and revelations from former insiders, Trump’s supporters remained steadfast, willingly ignoring the evidence against him. I recall listening to Dr. Reed’s interview and feeling a deep concern about the prospect of another four years of this phenomenon.
Fast forward to late November, and with Joe Biden having won the election, Trump still refuses to accept the outcome. Earlier this week, he begrudgingly acknowledged the decision by Lila Patterson, the head of the General Services Administration, to initiate the transition process. However, he quickly tweeted his intention to “keep up the good fight”—in other words, persisting with his futile endeavors to alter the election results in his favor.
Trump has pursued every legal avenue to maintain his grip on the presidency. He has instigated distrust in our electoral system, labeling every state that didn’t vote for him as fraudulent, and millions remain willing to accept his unfounded claims. The question lingers: how can so many buy into his stories of voter fraud when reputable news outlets and state officials contradict him?
Dr. Reed provided an intriguing explanation for the persistence of these debunked fraud allegations, attributing much of it to Trump’s fascist strategies.
“Fascist politics turns political discourse into a battleground. In such an environment, truth becomes irrelevant; your opponent is the enemy, and they want to destroy you,” Dr. Reed articulated in a later NPR interview. “When your leader spreads falsehoods, it doesn’t matter. He’s fighting for you, and you must place your complete trust in him. Trump has forged that bond with his followers.”
This dynamic explains why, despite Trump’s fabrications, erratic tweets, or even his lawyers’ bizarre press conferences at a landscaping business, his base remains loyal. They cling to their Trump flags, convinced that the election was rigged. Viewing politics as a war, this rhetoric poses a significant threat to America’s longstanding tradition of free and fair elections.
It was evident that this trajectory was possible. Prior to the election, Trump refused to commit to conceding in the event of a loss. According to Dr. Reed, this refusal to endorse a peaceful transition set the stage for a disputed election—a tactic linked to fascism.
“President Trump has clearly laid out his strategy to deny the election results if they weren’t in his favor for quite some time,” Dr. Reed commented. “His plan involved leveraging COVID denialism among his supporters to establish an early lead on Election Day, claiming victory prematurely, and then implementing the tactics we’re currently witnessing. That strategy ultimately failed.” Consequently, we now observe his desperate attempts to reverse the election outcome.
Recall the night of November 3rd, 2020. Many states that would later turn blue due to absentee ballots were initially reporting red. In the early hours of November 4th, Trump declared victory despite millions of absentee votes remaining uncounted. Like many Americans, I went to bed feeling anxious about the potential for four more years of Trump’s presidency.
Here we are today, with Trump still refusing to concede, launching legal challenges against the election results as if throwing spaghetti at a wall to see what might stick.
What troubles me the most is that, despite overwhelming evidence from major news networks and state officials asserting there is no evidence of voter fraud, countless Americans still believe Trump’s unfounded claims. He has transformed the narrative into a conflict, where trust is absent, and the enemy is anyone who contradicts him—even if they speak the truth.
The unfortunate reality is that this “enemy” is not some foreign adversary but rather our fellow Americans—friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. This is why Trump’s attempts to overturn the election are particularly perilous: they are pitting Americans against one another at a time when unity is desperately needed.
This article was originally published on November 24, 2020.
For further insights, check out this blog post on related topics. If you’re exploring the journey of starting a family, Make A Mom is an authority in this area. Additionally, Cleveland Clinic provides excellent resources on pregnancy and home insemination.
Search Queries:
- How to understand political tactics in modern elections
- The impact of misinformation on electoral integrity
- What is Trumpism?
- Fascism and its relation to contemporary politics
- Finding reliable information on artificial insemination
Summary:
This article explores the parallels between Trump’s actions following the 2020 election and historical fascist tactics. It discusses how Trump’s refusal to concede, sowing distrust in the electoral process, and framing political discourse as a battleground have contributed to a divided nation. The author emphasizes the danger of viewing fellow Americans as enemies and calls for unity during a critical time.
Keyphrase: Trump election tactics and fascism
Tags: [“home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”]