Echoes in History: Trump vs. Hitler

Is it outrageous to compare Trump's America to Hitler's Germany? Maybe. Maybe not. I am not asking this question to provoke, but to understand and to challenge the idea that we can only reflect on history when it's already too late. As someone who has watched the erosion of trust in democratic institutions, the rise of political violence, and the normalisation of dehumanising rhetoric, I can't help but wonder how close we are getting to the edge before recognising it as a cliff? This isn't about panic. It's about perspective. Comparing these two eras is not about equating them, it's about asking, what do we lose when we stop paying attention? Is there a difference between living in America under Donald Trump and living in Germany under Adolf Hitler?

It's a difficult comparison. One is a democratically elected U.S. president. The other, a genocidal dictator responsible for the deaths of over 60 million people in World War II, including 6 million Jews in the Holocaust. The short answer is YES, the differences are vast and undeniable, but that doesn't make the comparison meaningless. In fact, when we take a closer look at history not to compare, but to learn, we begin to see patterns worth paying attention to, before they spiral into something far more dangerous.

Every day, friends living in America and those all over the world are feeling stressed out with how valuable programs are being destroyed, people losing their jobs in government, elderly people fearing for their lives, and attacks on all people of colour, whether you are an American citizen or not. Many of my colleagues are trying to figure a way out. I wish I had a sound answer on what they should do first to survive the acts of a mad man determined to destroy America. It will certainly not make America great again.

In my research, I have discovered some key differences between Trump and Hitler. Trump did not abolish democracy, not yet anyway. He hasn't shut down the free press, outlawed political opposition, or established a one-party state. So far, during his administration, elections were held, courts challenged him, especially if he didn't appoint them like so many others, and people spoke out, loudly and freely of their disappointment and contempt. Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime dismantled democratic institutions entirely. Through fear, propaganda, violence, and law, he transformed Germany into a totalitarian state where dissent meant death. Can you imagine such a thing? The Nazis institutionalised hatred and genocide as state policy.

While the outcomes of the two narcissists differ, there are warning signs that deserve close attention and review of their actions. Here are a few:

• Dehumanising Rhetoric: Us vs. them language targeting immigrants, women, trans people, Muslims, people of colour, or political opponents.

• Attacks On the Press: Trump's enemy of the people claim dangerously echoes authoritarian tactics.

• Undermining Elections: False election claims and the January 6th insurrection show cracks in democratic stability.

• Glorifying Violence: Not in institutionalised like Hitler's Germany, but rhetoric emboldened extremist groups and created real-world consequences.

In all honesty, these behaviours don't equal fascism, but they do resemble early authoritarian tendencies that history warns us never to ignore. As a young boy growing up in America, I was taught to learn from history so there would be no surprises. For some reason, most people or countries fail to learn anything from their history. The conversation must be thoughtful, not theatrical or combative. In reality, history doesn't always repeat, but it often rhymes. Our lesson in life isn't that we are destined for doom, but that we must act before the nightmares become reality.

The questions I ask myself often include:

• What are the early warning signs of democratic decline?

• Do we normalise behaviours we would have once condemned?

• Is it possible for us to stay alert without becoming overwhelmed?

We are still living in a democracy that's fragile, noisy, and imperfect. Democracy can only survive when people stay awake and aware of everything happening around them. So no, living in Trump's America is not the same as living under Hitler's dictatorship yet. Asking the difficult question and sitting with the discomfort of the answer may be one of the most patriotic acts we can take. We owe it to the past, the present, and the future to pay attention to the actions being taken every day. It makes me sad to see so many wonderful programs eliminated all in the name of power and control.

Please share with me, what gives you hope during these times?