Trump set the internet ablaze with comments suggesting his opponents and the “radical left” were like “vermin” that needed to be rooted out. Many historians, news outlets, and politicians publicly condemned the former President’s remarks. His campaign manager seemed to make matters worse when stating Trump would crush the “entire existence” of anyone who likened him to the Nazi leader on his hopeful return to the White House. But is this just history repeating itself?
Root Out the “Vermin”
Trump, now famously, told his MAGA supporters at a rally in New Hampshire that he would “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.”
Language Mirroring Nazi Germany
On Veterans Day, Trump’s remarks sparked intense online criticism, with certain historians pointing out that his rhetoric bore resemblance to the dehumanizing language employed by Nazi Germany and Hitler against their adversaries.
US Veterans Gave Lives Fighting Hitler
Ammar Moussa, a spokesperson for Biden’s campaign, said: “On a weekend when most Americans were honoring our nation’s heroes, Donald Trump parroted the autocratic language of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini – two dictators many US veterans gave their lives fighting.”
Their Entire Existence Will Be Crushed
Trump’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, also spoke in reaction to the comparison between Trump and Hitler. Cheung told The Washington 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.”
Entire Existence Was a Mistake
Cheung later changed his statement, saying he meant to say “sad, miserable existence” and not “entire existence,” according to the Washington Post.
Terms That Are Horribly Recognizable
Andrew Bates, spokesperson for the White House, said, “Using terms like that about dissent would be unrecognizable to our founders, but horrifyingly recognizable to American veterans who put on their country’s uniform in the 1940s,”
Dehumanizing Opponents
Historian Jon Meacham said on MSNBC, “To call your opponent ‘vermin,’ to dehumanize them, is to not only open the door but to walk through the door toward the most ghastly kinds of crimes.”
Trump Is Telling Us What He Intends
More people came out to condemn Trump’s choice of words. During an ABC Daytime Talkshow, Hilary Clinton said, “Hitler was duly elected. All of a sudden somebody with those tendencies, dictatorial, authoritarian tendencies, would be like ‘OK we’re gonna shut this down, we’re gonna throw these people in jail.’ And they didn’t usually telegraph that. Trump is telling us what he intends to do,” she warned.
I’m Not Like Hitler
The internet exploded with memes, jokes, and insults, all ridiculing Trump’s spokespersons’ comments about crushing the accuser’s existence. One user posted the obvious, “Nothing says “I’m not like Hitler” more than exterminating people who say you’re like Hitler.”
Are There Lessons to Learn?
However, during Trump’s first Presidential campaign back in 2016, he was also compared to Adolf Hitler, and an article in The Hill had a story to tell about lessons learned.
History Repeating Itself
An article published by The Hill In 2016 titled “Likening Trump to Hitler: A Dangerous Comparison” highlighted the media’s rush to publish articles comparing Trump to Hitler. Headlines cited in the article included “Anne Frank’s stepsister compares Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler (CNN),” and “Sam Altman says Trump is evoking memories of Hitler (CNBC).” The article continued by stating that many famous actors and politicians also came out in 2016 to make the comparison.
Pause and Think of the Implications
The list of those comparing Trump to Hitler was growing as Trump’s 2016 campaign rally progressed. However, the article pointed out that these “influencers” and the media had not paused “to consider the implications of such an indictment.”
Trump Rallies Like Scenes From Nazi Germany
The article from The Hill then explained how several media outlets published stories of how Trump’s rallies looked “unnervingly similar to scenes from Nazi Germany.” The article said that Trump had “asked his supporters to raise their right hand and pledge that they would vote for him.”
Supporters Looked To Be Giving a Nazi Salute
The article read, “As those in attendance were in the process of raising their hands, pictures were snapped that made it appear as if they were giving the infamous Nazi salute.”
Trump Supporters Were Violently Attacked
After the stories were published, the article said that Trump supporters were “violently attacked after they left a Trump rally in San Jose, California,” this included elderly supporters. It also said that “protesters cornered a woman wearing a Trump jersey and began spitting on her and pelting her with bottles and eggs, can you guess what they were yelling? ‘Nazis go home!’”
Inciting Violence and Hatred
The article then read, “To all of the Trump detractors who rightly claim that words matter and that some of his rhetoric can provoke needless violence and division within our country, I’d like to request that they look in the mirror and ask, ‘Am I also inciting violence and hatred by dishonestly comparing Trump to Hitler?’”
Trump Derangement Syndrome
Many went online to post about Trump’s recent comments. One user posted, “Trump Derangement Syndrome will be cited for every type of undesirable In their eyes. Do not assume exportation or detainment will be limited to immigrants of color.”
Trump’s Ultimate Power Play
Another posted, “I would think being compared to Hitler was Trump’s ultimate power play goal.” Is history repeating itself, or does Trump want to be compared to Hitler?
Terrifying Prospects: 12 Moves Trump Could Unleash If Re-elected in 2024
Terrifying Prospects: 12 Moves Trump Could Unleash If Re-elected in 2024
21 Things MAGA Followers Permanently Destroyed For Everyone Else
21 Things MAGA Followers Permanently Destroyed For Everyone Else
America’s 15 Most Miserable States Revealed: Data Shows Places You Don’t Want to Live
America’s 15 Most Miserable States Revealed: Data Shows Places You Don’t Want to Live
12 Ways the World Suffered from Trump’s Reckless Moves
12 Ways the World Suffered from Trump’s Reckless Moves
Trump’s Hit List: 18 Brands That Incited the Wrath of the Former President
Trump’s Hit List: 18 Brands That Incited the Wrath of the Former President
