Donald Trump was elected on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 because of the issues of economic insecurity and discontent.  Unfortunately, it must be said that the electorate was willing to sacrifice in large part democracy, civil liberty, racial fairness, and integrity in government for the illusory promise of economic prosperity in a Trump administration.

The campaign established irrefutably the fascism of Donald Trump.  Both former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army General Mark Milley and former Trump White House Chief of Staff Retired Marine General John Kelly attested emphatically to the fascism of Donald Trump and warned of dire consequences to American democracy if Trump was elected.

Readers of this column should read the book, The Anatomy of Fascism by Robert Paxton, Professor Emeritus of History at Columbia University and universally recognized as the world’s leading authority on fascism.  The term “fascism” is best defined as a system of authoritarian, ultranationalist government that promotes theories of “racial purity” and hypermasculinity, which naturalizes oppressive domestic policies.  Trump’s adherence to his racial purity philosophy is best exemplified by his lifetime record of unmitigated bigotry against people of color.

For years, Trump has also openly proclaimed his intention to seek retribution against his political opponents by criminal prosecution and incarceration.  These threats by Trump and his allies have continued during the recent campaign and thereafter.   Such retribution, in defiance of the rule of law, is an essential aspect of fascist behavior.

Many Trump voters during the recent campaign acknowledged awareness of Trump’s fascism but ignored and played down its danger, asserting disbelief that Trump would ever try to implement an authoritarian agenda.  This past week, however, Trump’s appointment of former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz as Attorney General has made manifest the Trumpian undeniable fascistic threat to American democracy.

Gaetz is grossly unfit for the office of Attorney General.   He is totally without relevant qualifying attorney experience to serve as America’s top law enforcement official.  Allegations of his sexual predatory behavior serve as compelling evidence of his extreme lack of character for any federal position, let alone Attorney General.  They also demonstrate his adherence to the cult of hypermasculinity, which as stated above is a core characteristic of fascism.  His bigotry is amply demonstrated by his virulent antisemitism.  The Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt has registered his outspoken opposition to the Gaetz nomination, stating “he should not be appointed to any high office, much less one overseeing the impartial execution of our nation’s laws.”

I have virtually no doubt, however, that Gaetz will take office pursuant to a recess appointment, enabling him to avoid the scrutiny of the confirmation proceedings. The Republicans in the US Senate are by and large a collection of shamelessly supine political cowards who will not oppose the recess appointment.  It allows them the luxury of spuriously claiming no responsibility for the Gaetz appointment while permitting it to proceed.

The top priority of an Attorney General Gaetz will be retribution against Trump’s political opponents, including the lawless prosecution and incarceration of leading defenders of democracy against Trump fascism such as Special Prosecutor Jack Smith and former Congresswoman Liz Cheney.  It is beyond doubt that the Trump fascist retribution agenda will extend to journalistic opponents of Trump as well, as is made abundantly clear by the comments of Trump’s fellow fascist core advisor Kash Patel.

The fascist retribution agenda of the Gaetz weaponized Justice Department will be executed locally by his appointed US District Attorneys.  I have no idea whatsoever whom Trump will appoint as the US District Attorney for the State of New Jersey.  One thing is certain, however.  The Trump/ Gaetz appointed US Attorney for the District of New Jersey will be an individual whose loyalty to Trump supersedes his or her loyalty to the US Constitution.

I have proudly been the leading New Jersey journalistic critic of Donald Trump and Trump fascism over the past decade.  Accordingly, I fully expect that the Trump appointed New Jersey US Attorney will proceed with alacrity against me and other Trump critics on phony fabricated charges once instructed to do so by his or her superiors in the Trump Justice Department.

I will be acquitted, of course.  We have very good federal judges in New Jersey.  I have already retained an attorney, who has assured me of this.

I am most grateful for this reassurance. This Friday, November 22, I celebrate my 75th birthday. It is also a day on which I am most mindful every year of the anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy on my fourteenth birthday, November 22, 1963.   I doubt very much my prospects of survival and observance of more birthdays in a Trump gulag.

Alan J. Steinberg of Highland Park served as regional administrator of Region 2 EPA during the administration of former President George W. Bush and as executive director of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission. He graduated from Northwestern University and the University of Wisconsin Law School.