Trump Is Testing Every Feature of Fascism—And We Can’t Ignore It
For years, calling Trump a fascist felt extreme. It was a word people hesitated to use, something reserved for the pages of history books and warnings about how democracy falls. But now, with his return to power, that hesitation is gone.
Even before he was re-elected, historians, political scientists, and even his own former White House officials were sounding the alarm. Now, in just the first few weeks of his second presidency, Trump has tested every major characteristic of fascism. And if we don’t take that seriously—if we pretend this is just another round of political drama—we risk normalizing something that could destroy the country as we know it.
So let’s be clear: Fascism isn’t just an insult. It’s a real system of power, and we know exactly how it operates. Scholars like Robert Paxton and Umberto Eco have identified 14 defining features of fascism—and Trump’s already checking every single one of them.
The warning signs aren’t hypothetical anymore. They’re happening right now.
1. Extreme Nationalism
Trump’s "America First" branding has always been about more than patriotism. It’s a demand for loyalty, a division between "real" Americans and outsiders. Now, he’s pushing mass deportations, talking about expelling political enemies, and making it clear that if you don’t fit his vision of the country, you don’t belong.
2. Disdain for Human Rights
We’ve already seen what Trump’s administration does to human rights. Ripping kids from their parents at the border. Banning entire religious groups from entering the country. Encouraging police brutality. Now, he’s threatening to strip funding from universities that allow protests and openly admiring Putin, a war criminal. If you’re not alarmed, you’re not paying attention.
3. Scapegoating "Enemies"
Fascists need an enemy, and Trump has no shortage of them. The press. Immigrants. Democrats. Protesters. He constantly paints entire groups as threats to America, and then justifies crackdowns, bans, and violence against them. He’s already said he wants to investigate and jail political opponents. That’s not democracy—that’s dictatorship.
4. Supremacy of the Military
We’ve already watched Trump flirt with using military force against civilians. During the BLM protests, he wanted the National Guard to “dominate” the streets. Now, he’s reviving ideas of deploying federal troops to U.S. cities—a blatant move toward authoritarian control.
5. Rampant Sexism
Fascist regimes always reinforce rigid gender roles and traditional family structures. Trump’s history of misogyny, sexual assault allegations, and stripping women’s rights is well-documented. His administration is now pushing to restrict reproductive rights even further.
6. Control of Mass Media
Trump doesn’t need to seize control of the media when he’s already convinced millions of people not to trust it. His attacks on journalists, his use of right-wing propaganda outlets, and his alliances with tech billionaires like Elon Musk have created an ecosystem where disinformation thrives and independent journalism is under constant attack.
7. Obsession with National Security
Trump’s playbook always involves ramping up fear about crime, immigration, and foreign threats. From Muslim bans to border walls to calling for mass surveillance, he justifies authoritarian policies in the name of security. His second term is already shaping up to be even worse.
8. Religion and Government Intertwined
Trump’s not religious, but he sure knows how to use religion to consolidate power. His administration actively caters to Christian nationalists, pushing policies that favor conservative Christianity while attacking LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, and public education.
9. Corporate Power Protected
One of the most disturbing trends in Trump’s second presidency is his alliance with tech billionaires and corporate elites. Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and other powerful executives are lining up behind him, expecting deregulation and tax breaks in return for loyalty. This isn’t just cronyism—it’s a form of techno-fascism, where corporate and state power merge to consolidate control.
10. Suppression of Labor Unions
Fascist regimes don’t want workers organizing. That’s why Trump’s administration is actively working to weaken unions and strip labor protections. When workers don’t have power, corporations and the government can do whatever they want.
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Trump’s hostility toward universities, academics, and the arts isn’t just ignorance—it’s strategy. He knows that educated, informed citizens are harder to manipulate. That’s why he’s threatening to defund universities that allow protests and calling for curriculum changes that erase history.
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Trump’s “law and order” rhetoric is always about punishing the groups he doesn’t like. He’s already pushing for harsher policing, expanding the death penalty, and calling protesters criminals. His administration encourages law enforcement to crack down on dissent while protecting political allies.
13. Corruption and Cronyism
Trump’s inner circle is a who’s who of extremists, billionaires, and loyalists. He rewards personal loyalty over expertise, filling his administration with unqualified yes-men who will never challenge his power. His business interests continue to profit off his presidency, blurring the line between governance and personal gain.
14. Attacks on Elections and Democracy
This might be the most obvious one. Trump’s entire political strategy is built on undermining democracy. From lying about voter fraud to encouraging January 6th insurrectionists, he’s made it clear that he does not accept elections unless he wins. His allies are now pushing new laws that could let Republican-controlled state legislatures override election results. The goal? Make sure he never has to leave power again.
This Isn’t a Drill. This Is Happening.
If you’re looking at this list and thinking, Well, Trump’s always been like this—why worry now? That’s exactly how democracy dies: when people get used to the warning signs and stop fighting back.
Fascism doesn’t take over all at once. It seeps in gradually, testing boundaries, seeing how much people will tolerate, eroding norms piece by piece until it’s too late to stop.
We are at that moment right now.
So What Do We Do?
We fight. Not just at the ballot box—but every day, in every way we can.
Call out disinformation.
Support independent journalism.
Protest. Organize. Educate.
Refuse to accept this as normal.
Most importantly, don’t wait until it gets worse. Every time Trump pushes a little further into authoritarianism, he’s testing whether we’ll resist. If we do nothing, he’ll keep going. That’s how it happens.
The fight for democracy isn’t theoretical anymore—it’s here. Right now. The only question is whether we’re willing to fight for it.