Trump calls political enemies 'vermin,' echoing dictators Hitler, Mussolini - The Washington Post
By: Marianne LeVine (Washington Post)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
On Veterans Day, the former president vowed to "root out" his liberal opponents, drawing backlash from historians who say his rhetoric is reminiscent of authoritarians
Former president Donald Trump denigrated his domestic opponents and critics during a Veterans Day speech Saturday, calling those on the other side of the aisle "vermin" and suggesting that they pose a greater threat to the United States than countries such as Russia, China or North Korea. That language is drawing rebuke from historians, who compared it to that of authoritarian leaders.
"We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country that lie and steal and cheat on elections," Trump said toward the end of his speech, repeating his false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. "They'll do anything, whether legally or illegally, to destroy America and to destroy the American Dream."
Trump went on further to state: "the threat from outside forces is far less sinister, dangerous and grave than the threat from within. Our threat is from within. Because if you have a capable, competent, smart, tough leader, Russia, China, North Korea, they're not going to want to play with us."
The former president's speech in Claremont, N.H., echoed his message of vengeance and grievance, as he called himself a "very proud election denier" and decried his legal entanglements, once again attacking the judge in a New York civil trial and re-upping his attacks on special counsel Jack Smith. In the speech, Trump once again portrayed himself as a victim of a political system that is out to get him and his supporters.
Yet Trump's use of the word "vermin" both in his speech and in a Truth Social post on Saturday drew particular backlash.
"The language is the language that dictators use to instill fear," said Timothy Naftali, a senior research scholar at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. "When you dehumanize an opponent, you strip them of their constitutional rights to participate securely in a democracy because you're saying they're not human. That's what dictators do."
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian at New York University, said in an email to The Washington Post that "calling people 'vermin' was used effectively by Hitler and Mussolini to dehumanize people and encourage their followers to engage in violence."
"Trump is also using projection: note that he mentions all kinds of authoritarians 'communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left' to set himself up as the deliverer of freedom," Ben-Ghiat said. "Mussolini promised freedom to his people too and then declared dictatorship."
Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesman, told The Post "those who try to make that ridiculous assertion are clearly snowflakes grasping for anything because they are suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome and their entire existence will be crushed when President Trump returns to the White House."
Cheung later clarified that he meant to say their "sad, miserable existence" instead of their "entire existence."
Trump also received widespread criticism and condemnation recently from groups such as the Anti-Defamation League for saying in an interview that undocumented immigrants were "poisoning the blood of our country."
Domingo Garcia, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, the oldest Hispanic civil rights group in the country, said at the time that Trump's comments about blood indicate his language is "getting more extreme," comparing it to Nazi propaganda about Jewish people.
Trump's divisive rhetoric comes as he remains the clear polling leader in the dwindling GOP primary field and as he and his allies have already started to plot ways for the federal government to punish his critics and opponents should he win back the White House next November. The Post recently reported that Trump — who faces 91 charges across four criminal cases — is naming the people he wants to investigate and prosecute, and his associates are drafting plans to potentially invoke the Insurrection Act on his first day in office, which would allow him to deploy the military in response to civil demonstrations.
In addition to attacking the "radical left," he also spent part of the New Hampshire speech lashing out at a New York judge overseeing his civil fraud case, calling New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) a "disaster" and reiterating his descriptions of Smith as "deranged." Smith has brought two indictments against Trump: one in a case charging Trump with illegally hoarding classified documents and the other alleging he sought to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power by seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 election, leading to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
"The Trump-hating prosecutor in the case, his wife and family despise me much more than he does and I think he's about a ten," he said. "They're about a 15, on a scale of ten. … He's a disgrace to America."
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Liz Cheney is not Trump's type - She has integrity.
That's the level of discourse we can expect from Trumpists.
Which she all of a sudden got as soon as she said she hated Trump
Just like mccain and romney, lol, and they don’t even see it.
Which became apparent to everyone when she stood up for truth and the Constitution.
Her standing up against Trump's attempt to steal the 2020 election in spite of the impact that had on her political career illustrated her integrity ("the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.").
She could have done what most of her spineless cohorts did and kowtow to Trump (and not object to the obvious insane level of dishonesty behind Trump's Big Lie). She did not. She knew it would cost her dearly but she went ahead anyway.
Funny how she is now considered by 'fine upstanding' Republicans as a 'turn-coat'.
To me, she is part of the sane GOP that has been overtaken by the dysfunctional, irrational, Trump-supporting GOP.
Yes, she has integrity much like McCain and Romney. Good examples, in the political realm that is, of politicians who (relative to other politicians) have integrity.
It's sad too. Because it's misogynistic too. If I was a woman I would say something about it being here!
So what? She had a "lightbulb" moment during the January 7, 2021 event. About damn time. She finally realized that Donald Trump gives less than a damn about her , the 'cherished' constitution, and all of congress when his 'dream' of being a living 'god' for all times (while he lives) is on the line. BTW, did Trump attend Ashley Babbitt's funeral service after she got killed in the Capitol? Nope. Did he say nice words over her misguided attempts to support a worthless cause on his behalf? Nope. She meant little to nothing to him then and now.
As MAGA means.
You see what means more to Trump: Trump's business world. He is: 1. In court where he never deigned to be when he was president. 2. He does not have to be in court now but he is on a regular basis. 3. He is even taking the stand and testifying on his behalf (its worth will be later determined).
Suffice it to say he cares about Trump's business enough to show up and testify. Trump gave a damn about what the rest of YOU thought about him letting others defend him on federal charges because that was governmental interests—not his!
See what? McCain is gone down to silence if you know what I mean. And Romney finally got pushed to the point where his questionable "high standard" could not take bending down any lower. And so, Romney did the only thing he could do-depart. Leave the political stage. Trump controls all the GOP air around him and if he wishes to breath relaxingly again he had to go somewhere where Trump is not—outside Trump's political reach.
You are welcome to your opinion.
So classy!
Such a rare thing in today's gop - a republican with a spine.
That's good to hear!
He should know, he fits all of the above, especially the vermin part.
Trump is smart enough to know that if he throws 'em red meat they will eat it up and be 'full' and love him for it. Or else. . . they will turn ferociously and see him standing there. . . .
Seems Trump is unclear as to the meaning of this word.
the entire maga movement is ignorant of the definition of fascism...
the maga completely liquid diarrhea bowel movement
I don't entirely agree. Some MAGAs know exactly what fascism is and support it totally.
Projection, deflection, and denial + delusion at its finest.
From what I have seen, the response from the right to this has basically been "big deal".
No level of Trump derangement hurts his standing with the cult.
Trump just keeps pushing his rhetoric in more and more violent directions and certain members here will continue to insist that anyone who calls it fascism doesn’t know what fascism means.
Trump would love some sort of violent civil uproar to take attention off all his criminal behavior.
civil unrest is definitely plan b for escaping his accountability. trump ratchets up the violent rhetoric whenever he starts to slip in the polls.
it's hilarious when trump's brainless sycophants pick up the tab for his violent rhetoric...
His detractors seem to be offended by his words, when they could just simply just ignore him like most of us do..
Vermin:
people perceived as despicable and as causing problems for the rest of society.
Sounds alot like deplorables. Now where have I heard that before?
From Hillary Clinton and her exact words were ''she said half of Donald Trump's supporters belong in a "basket of deplorables".
She lost the election to Trump, could we be so fortunate to have Trump implode and lose the 2024 election by a landslide with vermin pinned on his back?
Oh, that's right. And what was the democrat reaction to that? I sure hope it was the same as they are reacting to a Republican saying the same thing or that would make them ............
If the right didnt have false equivalencies and whataboutisms, they would have nothing to talk about.
I don't much care how dems reacted, but of course, Trump with his usual bombastic BS just keeps going, communist, fascist, Marxist and thug.
He truly is a classless act.
If the left didn't have But But But Trump they might have to talk about policies, and that would be a disaster.
Exactly my point, thank you.
Actually, it wasn't your point you mis interpreted my comment to mean something other than my intent.
My comment meant that I was no fan of Clinton so I have no interest in her comment or the dem or republican reaction to them.
I'm also no fan of Trump so I do like to point out what a bombastic pile of bullshit he is and the good thing about him is that he never disappoints.
Don't forget that Hillary won the popular vote but lost to Trump due to Russian involvement.
And you still haven't got her a tiara.
We've been waiting since 2016 for the proof of that
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Hillary was off by half and she was correct about everything regarding the former 'president' and little putin and everything else, which is why the RWNJs hate her.
Still denying the undeniable
Not offended by his words since they describe himself mostly. You would think that someone running for the presidency of the US would be a bit more articulate but he is speaking to his followers so we do have that to factor in.
Does that make sense to you?
Someone who has publicly stated his intent to vote for Trump as president of the USA claims that he just ignores Trump and recommends others do likewise.
I don't listen to his rants and speeches, and I don't read any of the stories about him.
All I know is that I will vote for the Republican nominee, whoever that ends up being.
Know who you are going to vote for:
"But the defendant stands alone in American history for his alleged crimes.
No other president has engaged in conspiracy and obstruction to overturn valid election results and illegitimately retain power."
Ignorance is bliss for some.
Of course not! But I've been credited with having at half a brain
Well, you know the olde sayin:
An informed citizen is the basis of democracy . . .
But he said mean things. I think they are working on an indictment on that.
Adam Schiff is looking into impeaching him for it even though he has been out of office for almost 3 years.
We already know Schiff is a blithering idiot so his attempts to "impeach" a private citizen is no real surprise.
And Trump still insists that he is still President, so hell yes Adam impeach him again.
Trump is no private citizen, just listen to him he is still president and of course a babbling idiot as well.
meh, at least we have a hilarious state funeral to look forward to watching on TV ...
Is he holding office? No? Then he's a private citizen. Just like you and I. Now that being said, how do you "impeach" a private citizen like this dumbass is wanting to do?
He thinks he is along with hundreds of thousands of his dumbass followers living in their very own twilight zone. Schiff can hold the impeachment hearing at the same mental institution that ''One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest'' was filmed at and ''The Chief can throw Trump and his golden toilet threw the window.
name another american, out on bail that wouldn't already be back in jail for saying the same things trump has said.
What things?
If you don't know by now, you never will.
Things that hurt their feelings.
there's only 2 persons here that disappear when their feelings get hurt...
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Then we should not be concerned when Trump lifts words and phrases straight from Adolf Hitler's speeches swearing revenge on those who are against him?
R I G H T... /s
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No, we are pointing out why every news outlet is blasting Trump for using Nazi rhetoric and lifting lines right from Hitler.
The point is this appeals to Trump's base!
I hear you. Loud and clear. Plain as a bell.
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MAGA is political behavior and political affiliation. No one is born MAGA.
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Well, unless their mother is MAGA.
(Of course I believe they could also convert to become a MAGA
)
So stupid.
Says the guy who lies, cheats, and tried to steal an election.
Hitler-esque.
Yeah, the traitor himself and his supporters.
Trump is evil. As has been pointed out, dehumanizing rhetoric like this only serves to prep his cult following for violence. He repeats his alternate universe lies to them every chance he gets, like some kind of Jedi mind trick (or would it be Sith?) It's unbelievable that it still works on them. Hell, it's unbelievable that it ever worked at all. Effing morons.
meh, I'm counting on the most mentally challenged among the trump cult to heed his calls and make the first move, and I'm looking forward to defending america and constitution from maga domestic terrorists.
It'll probably be the day he's found guilty of something, and is being fitted for an orange jumpsuit.
But Joe Biden actually DID those things. Maybe is the Nazi.
Those "things"? What "things"?
Prosecute his political enemies.
He also censored opposing opinions.
Good grief. Merely because Biden is the PotUS you conclude that he instigated the lawsuits against Trump while ignoring the fact that Trump in a grand style brought this on himself.
More conspiratorial nonsense.
Oh ya, everything is a conspiracy theory.
You do recall that for the first time two individuals were prosecuted for ignoring a House Subpoena.
Hunter Biden is now getting one and his lawyer doesn't seem too enthusiastic about honoring it.
Somebody who believes in law and order should condemn Biden's DOJ for prosecuting those two men if they let Hunter slide the same as when Eric Holder was allowed to thumb his nose at a House Subpoena.
I'll be watching you.
Les armes du jour.
Jordon, Biggs, Brook and McCarthy ignored J6 subpoenas, "thumb their nose at subpoena" as you put it.
Could some people just get any more delusional?
Delusion is the basement of their safe-space. Donald has convinced them it is the penthouse.
trumpsters always assume that biden directs DOJ activities like trump did when he was in office.
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Hopefully, you will pay attention.
"I'll be watching you"
Sounds like the former 'president'
Really fucking creepy
In trumpturd world, all that glitters is not gold
try posting the picture of a shiny object in the comments you want him to read.
What the hell does that mean? It sounds like a threat
It's a threat in the Trumpist-Fascist mode.
Maybe.
Maybe not,
So then you believe the conspiracy theory by a member of the gqp recently at a hearing regarding homeland security that the FBI was involved and sent 'ghost buses' full of FBI agents acting as supporters of the former 'president' on 1/6 to instigate the failed coup or something along the lines of that nuttier than a fruitcake whackjob conspiracy theory??????
I wish I knew what you were talking about.
Sounds like a personal problem
Start with Clay Higgins and you know exactly what I'm talking about.
My mistake, these ghost buses were full of FBI informants and were sent to the Capitol on 1/6. Ghost buses is a new one on Christopher Wray and anyone else talking about this newest whackjob conspiracy theory.
Joseph Goebbels would be proud.
Can any of these trmp supporters say anything without being insulting?
Steven Cheung reads NT!
It will be okay. Every time a MAGA says something hateful and stupid and completely bassackwards online a liberal angel gets its wings and a dozen young voters swear to never to vote for that bullshit...
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Nope, nothing like. "Red Wave Fiction"...
Young voters, essentially young women, are turned off by the gop's hatefulness!
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funny how republicans are so concerned about israeli jews, yet they despise american jews...
They need the Israeli Jews to fulfill their Biblical End Times. Once that's accomplished they can all go to hell with the rest of the Jews
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So hateful and evil.
Yep, dehumanizing our others, fellow humans, as "Vermin", "Rodents" and "Feral Cats" is straight out of "The Fascist's Playbook". It is Naziass Shit...
Lucky for us Joe doesn't try to dehumanize people he doesn't like. "This MAGA threat is a threat to the brick and mortar of our democratic institutions," Biden said. "It's also a threat to the character of our nation that gives our Constitution life, that binds us together as Americans, a common cause. None of this is surprising, though. They've tried to govern that way before. Thank God they failed. But they haven't given up."
More false equivalence.
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The comments by some of the right wing elements on here reveals the following:
- Some think Trump's use of fascist/Nazi-influenced rhetoric is funny and, for them, a source of great humor.
- Some think Trump's use of fascist/Nazi-influenced rhetoric is acceptable and/or without consequence.
- Their only real response to Trump's use of fascist/Nazi-influenced rhetoric is to create wildly false equivalencies and attempt to distract and deflect.
This is related to the "I could shoot someone in the middle of 5th avenue" thing.
It doesnt matter what he does, to MAGA it is ALL excusable. If Trump does it , it is excusable.
Some Trumpists might excuse his fascist/Nazi-influenced rhetoric. Others clearly support it.
We have the endless defense of the indefensible by some.
Actually I think it is the reaction of some whose heads explode with every word that comes out of Trumps mouth that is a great source of humor. Most people understand that Trump has no filter and talks all kinds of shit not to be taken seriously. That is because he is a blowhard and a braggart. Not the best quality but not enough to get ones panties in a bunch every day like it seems to do.
Yeah....some people considered Hitler to be a buffoon, too....
If being a buffoon makes you a fascist then Joe is the king of fascists.
totally missed the point
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“Not the best quality but not enough to get ones panties in a bunch every day like it seems to do.”
But inexplicably, it is enough to make him the front-gunner for the gop nomination. If it wasn’t so tragic it would just remain the tasteless joke it already is.
While I think it helped him in 2016 I am thinking alot of people are tired of it now. What is helping him IMO is his likely opponent and the disaster known as the economy.
None of which explains why his opponents for the nomination are doing so poorly.
Donald Trump is an obvious traitor. NOTHING should be "helping him".
Whoosh!!!!!!!!!!
lol
“NOTHING should be "helping him"…”
Like the pornographer he is…everything he utters is lewd, explicit, and yet somehow open for interpretation.
That he is being propped up, so to speak, by the fluffers who would gasp at that reference if only they understood it and would deny it if only they would…is why he is still stiff competition.
I assume his supporters feel he is the best one to beat brainless biden
Joe is helping him.
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Trump's supporters feel he is the best one to impose an authoritarian regime. That's what excites them about him. They can't wait.
And that is what they want. They want someone to tell them when to get up in the morning, where to go to work, what to wear, what church to go to. They don't want to think for themselves.
why start now? gather the lemmings and show them the way to a cliff...
Far from being a disaster, the US has the highest GDP in the world. Stop drinking Trump's Kool-Aid.
7th on GDP per capita
The World Bank says 12th.
Thanks.
Koolaid is too expensive in the world of Biden
Most MAGAs make their own Kool-Aid in the still in the lean-to up against their outhouse.
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Aren't they headed that way already? It might be funny if they weren't dragging the rest of the nation with them.
Today's gqp/republiCONS/CONServatives - so many of them are nothing but a bunch of thugs and goons. Their first resort is hate and violence.
I just saw something about a Senate hearing where a republican rep. wanted to fight a Union rep. Bernie Sanders had to tell the asshole republican rep. to ask a question that was relevant.
His name is Mullins and he is a rep. from Oklahoma and he challenged the Teamsters General President Union leader to a fist fight. During a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee meeting on 11/14
Mullins can best be described as a typical ReTHUGlican.
I can't believe the guy is a native american. what real indian would align himself with rwnj treaty breakers and mother earth haters?
He did that last year too with a union guy. I think he was a little more ready to throw punches today though.
Mullins brags about creating his business (I think it is something in the plumbing line) but it turns out he inherited the business from his father.
I think he bragged about that during this session also.
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