Yes, I will Continue to Call Trump a Fascist Threat to Democracy. Because He is.
This past week, I watched the American Gaslighting Festival, known as the Republican National Convention. It was a despicable, yet perhaps successful effort to transform Donald Trump, a physical and moral coward, an anti-intellectual incompetent who spoke favorably of injecting bleach to cure COVID, a misogynist, and virulent racist into a Greek god-like mythical figure.
In 2015, at the time Trump announced his presidential candidacy, I began to author columns about his shameless and unabashed fascism and the threat to democracy he poses. My first such column compared him with former Governor of Alabama George C. Wallace, whose unabashed racism, a central characteristic of fascism was virtually identical to that of Trump.
At the time I wrote that column up until the present, I often thought about the uncanny resemblance of Wallace campaign events with Trump rallies. They both had the characteristic of generating unbridled passion, both from supporters and protesting adversaries. And both Wallace and Trump campaign events were showcases of racism, including Trump incitement of white MAGA types to rough up Black protestors.
What frightened me since Trump’s entry onto the national stage was the possibility of a Trump assassination, similar to the Wallace assassination attempt. There were two reasons for my fear.
First was my abhorrence of violence, particularly the use of violence to resolve political conflicts in a democracy.
Second was the likelihood that in the wake of a Trump assassination attempt, he would become a martyr. As a fascist, racist, misogynist criminal, an opponent of the rule of law, and a mortal threat to democracy, Trump does not deserve the distinction of martyrdom. Had he been murdered in the assassination attempt last Saturday, Trump would have entered history as the American Engelbert Dollfuss, the non- Nazi fascist former Chancellor of Austria who was murdered by Nazi assassins in 1934.
Yet I wondered what I could do to prevent the assassinations of leading political figures, even those whom I despise. Inspired by the legacy of my late and treasured friend, Jim Florio, my focus was on the elimination of semi-automatic weapons like the AR-15, the weapon of choice of political assassins and mass shooters. Efforts to eliminate the uncontrolled purchase and use of the AR-15, however were thwarted by the National Rifle Association (NRA), an organization which in this era is controlled by gun manufacturers.
My worst fears were realized at the time of the Trump assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, July 13. The assassin’s weapon indeed was indeed an AR-15. And as I had feared, in the wake of the assassination attempt, Trump was venerated by Republicans throughout the nation at all levels.
As for me personally, I was affected in a different way. Since the assassination attempt, efforts have been made by members of the MAGA thugocracy to intimidate me, claiming that because of my emphatic criticism of Trump over the past decade, I have “blood on my hands.”
These claims are vile, contemptible, and above all, blatantly false. Yes, I am indeed proudly anti-Trump. People are free to agree or disagree with my opinions. Yet throughout my career, my character for integrity, factual accuracy, and ethics has been unimpeachable and above reproach. I will not surrender this reputation to the intimidation efforts of MAGA authoritarian thugs.
Moreover, the assassination attempt against Trump had absolutely nothing to do with the intense political polarization in America. There is no evidence whatsoever of any political motive on the part of the would-be assassin. He was a delusional individual with no fixed political ideology—more John Hinckley than John Wilkes Booth.
The MAGA racist thugs objected most vehemently to my assertions that Donald Trump is a fascist. These assertions are totally grounded in fact. As a result of Trump actions during this campaign, his fascism is more evident than ever.
There are numerous characteristics and functional aspects of fascism. In the case of Donald Trump, there are two characteristics and five functional aspects that indelibly and irrefutably establish his brand of fascism.
The characteristics of Trump fascism include 1) his virulent racism, both in his private and political life; and 2) his misogyny.
Trump has a lifetime record of blatant bigotry against African-Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans. Examples abound: His leadership in the “birther” movement, including claims that Kamala Harris was ineligible to run for president or vice-president because her parents were immigrants, his campaign for the death penalty against the Central Park Five even after their innocence was proven, his discrimination against African-Americans in the rental of his housing units in Brooklyn in the 1970s, and his attempts to bar a distinguished American jurist, Gonzalo Curiel from presiding over the Trump University fraud case on the basis of his Mexican ancestry.
As for his misogyny, the judicial determination that he raped E. Jean Carroll is the ultimate conclusive proof.
The functional aspects of Trump fascism are his 1) continuous attempts to rig and subvert elections, including his failed challenges to the 2020 election results and utilization of fake electors: 2) disregard for the rule of law, as confirmed by his recent conviction of 34 felony charges in New York State; 3). insurrectionary activity, most notably his fomenting of the violence of January 6, 2021 that endangered the life of his own Vice President Mike Pence, who courageously refused to honor Trump’s unlawful request to overturn Joe Biden’s election as president; 4) his attempts as president to weaponize the Justice Department, including the facts contained in the House January 6 committee chaired by former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, and 5) Illegal retribution against political and journalistic adversaries.
It is the certainty of massive illegal Trump retribution that is the most terrifying and ominous aspect of the Trump fascism to come.
During Campaign 2020, Trump openly called on his Attorney General, Bill Barr to swiftly arrest Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Hillary Clinton. He gave special recognition to his Democratic presidential opponent, Joe Biden, saying he had committed “the greatest political crime in the history of our country.”
Yet to paraphrase Al Jolson, when it comes to the retribution aspect of Trump fascism, you ain’t seen nothing yet!
The conclusive irrefutable proof of the coming of Trump fascism can be found in the statement of Trump’s leading confidant Kash Patel, as follows:
” We’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections. We’re going to come after you, whether it’s criminally or civilly. We’ll figure that out. But yeah, we’re putting you all on notice.”
Well, I am on notice.
Given my anti-Trump reputation which I proudly wear as a badge of honor, I find the Patel statement most chilling. I will be 75 years old in November, and I doubt that I would survive more than a year in a Trumpian prison.
I am accused by the MAGA thugocracy of exaggerating the threat of Trump fascism. To those individuals, I respond by giving you Trump’s statement accusing Liz Cheney of treason and calling for her to be tried in front of a televised military tribunal. This is reminiscent of the 1944 Nazi show trials resulting in the execution of the German generals who failed in their plot to assassinate Hitler. Any further questions?
So yes, I will continue to call Donald Trump a fascist threat to democracy. Because he is.
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.
Bravo !
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Well written Alan!
Tune in for a Trump speech and you end up getting a Hannibal lecture.
Well written, Mr. Steinberg!
Thank you!
Democracy died when Biden lied. In fact, the Democrat-Communist Party has thrown away Democracy by throwing away the 14 MILLION VOTERS that voted for Biden in the primary. What if those people knew of Biden’s brain-addled dementia and had the opportunity to vote for RFK, Jr. or the other 2 Democrat candidates??? They would be still able to conduct a constitutional election. But No! The Democrats forced Biden out, and are now scrambling to annoint Kabala Harris and some anti-American Democrat for V.P. with about 3 months to go before the election.
Writer Alan Steinberg goes seriously off his meds, when he falsely accuses Trump of “raping” E.J. Carroll. He needs to retract that defamatory, libelous statement because there was never any conviction of “rape”. The heavily slanted Democrat jury did not find evidence of “rape”. Steinberg needs to withdraw his statement or be reported for the slander he spews.
Steinberg is a vile human being. He slanders Trump and the rest of the MAGA party (over 100 MILLION) while his own candidate, Biden, lied, extorted, committed treason and sedition for taking payoffs from our enemies for influence in the White House, committed treason and sedition by opening the borders allowing 15 MILLION ILLEGAL ALIENS, many being terrorists, criminals, disease carriers, and mental defectives, into the U.S.A. The list goes on with Biden and his Racketeering Crime Family. Even Democrats wanted Biden out because he was so bad. Democrat voters have shifted their allegiances to vote for Trump because they see that Trump’s agenda is good for the country and good for them. Even the Blacks and Hispanics have shifted to Trump because they’ve been lied to by fascist Democrat-Communists for decades who only claim they will help these demographics if they give the Democrats their vote. Then the Democrat politicians disappear and do nothing until the next election cycle. Blacks and Hispanics realize that Trump did more for their financial and social aid then any 10 Democrat Presidents ever did.
I guess Steinberg is worried that he is going to be targeted for his journalistic malpractice and Radical Leftist propaganda that caused the stealing of an election in 2020 to a brain-damaged cadaver a/k/a Biden. That’s a true crime–election fraud and election interference. If Steinberg is worried he’s going to be targeted for arrest or being sued, good. So be it. Journalists can’t run around making false stories, stating false and inflammatory narrative with no facts to back it up, defaming/libeling/slandering politicans and people that leads to the inciting of riots and upset in the community.
Lastly, Steinberg is a lackey of George W. Bush. The Bushes and Cheneys are close friends and power brokers in Washington, D.C. that made their fortune off of the backs of American taxpayers. Steinberg’s attempted protection of Liz Cheney falls on deaf ears now that the January 6th committee chaired by Liz is now out in the open as a fraudulent, unconstitutional committee (that’s why they had to hide over 44,000 hours of video). Yes, Steinberg is going down with the Cheneys and Bushes–in essence, part of the “Deep State” cabal.
I rub my hands together with glee, Mr Jefferson, you always outdo yourself! Thanks to your staunch efforts, America will crumble, rest assured! In all sincerity–truly, I mean this–I only wish the rest of my anonymous cyber trolls were half as energetic as you! Five full paragraphs of unhinged, paranoid nonsense from your hard-working hands! Bravo, bravo! Your paycheck will be arriving soon with a bonus tin of caviar and my compliments, comrade.
PRICELESS…….VLADIMIR V. PUTIN
“Five full paragraphs of unhinged paranoid nonsense from your hard working hands.”
I would like to add the Chinese proverb.
To talk much and arrive at nothing is the same as climbing a tree to catch a fish.
Trump was found guilty of rape. And ordered to pay $83 million for defamation. $5 million for rape. $355 million for business fraud. His son’s $4 million each for same. $25 million for fake Trump university. And is now a convicted felon. Guilty on 34 counts. Soon to be sentenced. Now we have a prosecutor, who was praised by law enforcement in California, running against a felon and rapist. The man who told his supporters to attack police at the Capital. Bring it on!!!!
M Horner is good at defaming people, especially when he’ doesn’t have the facts. Trump was NEVER found guilty of “rape”. The defamation case will be dismissed on appeal. There wasn’t $5 MILLION for “rape”. Please provide your proof. $355 Million for business fraud. The Judge is now under investigation for judicial misconduct. The State of Missouri sued New York in the U.S. Supreme Court because of Letitia James’ fraudulent lawsuit interfering with the election. The U.S. Supreme Court told New York to answer the allegations NOW!!! As for the $25 Million for alleged “fake” Trump University, please provide proof. As for being a “convicted felon” that is now up in the air, because the Judge has misconduct problems and the U.S. Supreme Court said Trump had Presidential Executive Immunity on the issues brought to trial in the bogus NY case. Sentencing on hold until after the election, if at all (as Judge Merchan said).
As for Kabala Harris being the prosecutor “running against the felon”, Harris released violent MS-19 gang member felons after murdering cops and families. She arrested blacks for selling nickel bags of pot, while she smoked it on a YouTube show and laughed about it. Harris was the “Border Czar”. Where was she for 3 years on the border???? Crickets!!!!!
So, M Horner, what is your point???????
Thomas Jefferson is a mental pygmy.
Alan Steinberg’s statement, “So yes, I will continue to call Donald Trump a fascist threat to democracy. Because he is”, is treasonous and seditious insurrection. It is now attempted murder, or inciting insurrection, or inciting attempted murder.
These continuing comments of calling Trump a “fascist”, a “Nazi”, a “Hitler”, and other similar inflammatory comments are what almost got President Trump assassinated. So, Mr. Steinberg, are you calling for the murder of President Trump, or is it coming from the Bush-Cheney Cabal.
Remember when Liz Cheney, after getting kicked out of office by almost 30 points in the last election, said she was going to stop Trump from getting into the White House by any means necessary??? Was that her father, Dick Cheney, talking??? The same Dick Cheney of the fake “weapons of mass destruction” that caused the U.S. to invade Iraq, and the same Dick Cheney that shot his own attorney in the face on a hunting trip????
Or, is it the Bushes, like H.W. Bush that was the Director of the CIA, or G.W. Bush that attacked Iraq for financial gain from the military-industrial complex (along with Cheney)?????
Another well written, fair minded and knowledgeable piece from Alan. Thank you and keep up the good work.
Steinburg…you are showing your Jacka$$
Hey Steinberg, a Federal Judge in Florida just allowed President Trump’s defamation suit to go forward against ABC and George Stephanopolous for Georgie Boy calling Trump a “rapist”. You’ve just done the same thing. I will be forwarding this article to Trump to bring a defamation suit against you and NJ Insider.
TJ needs to stir his Bosco a bit more before consumption.
its a shame he doesn’t know what he is talking about. trump dosnt need to be doing this but he saw the country going downhill and felt he had to. so for 4 years we had international peace (through strength), a vibrant economy, lead the world in energy production, built hundreds of miles of border wall, which unfortunetly wasn’t able to be finished before the next election, moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, established the Abraham Peace accords, and strengthened our military. Noone ever heard of “woke”, and he came out against CRT in schools. Steinberg should check history before he blathers.
Eric Lewis is what Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu calls “useful idiots” for the Socialist-Communists and anti-
Semitic crowd. Lewis can’t make a cogent argument because he has no facts, so he resorts to personal ad hominem attacks and irrelevant name-calling. Since you can’t answer my facts, Mr. Lewis, you talk but say nothing.
And, as for Kathleen Demarest’s inane comments, her comment trying to insult me by using an irrelevant Chinese proverb: “To talk much and arrive at nothing is the same as climbing a tree to catch a fish.” Hey Kathleen, when I was a kid, I used to climb trees over the river and dropped my fishing line while sitting on the main branch. Caught a lot of catfish, perch and trout. You use an awful lot of Chinese proverbs in your self-absorbed personal attacks on me and others. Are you a member of the Chinese Communist Party????
Thomas Jefferson: You excel in willful ignorance.