Yes, yes, we do not compare people to Hitler. It's done to death. But, when there is real similarity, to deny is to support that autocratic mimic's efforts.
We HAVE GOT to see history clearly and learn from it. Just as those seeking power and the demise of democracy have done. More correctly, as those who they surround themselves with, have done.
This, is chilling. Here’s a breakdown of how far Trump has gone in following Hitler’s “strife → savior → power” playbook, and where he’s stalled or succeeded so far:
1. Creating/Exaggerating Crisis → Success
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Hitler: Versailles humiliation + Depression.
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Trump: Constant crisis framing — “American carnage,” border “invasion,” “rigged elections,” “deep state.”
✅ Trump has succeeded here. His base now sees perpetual crisis as reality.
2. Scapegoating Enemies → Success
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Hitler: Jews, communists, “traitors.”
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Trump: Immigrants, minorities, media, Democrats, FBI/DOJ, anyone disloyal.
✅ Trump has nailed this. His followers largely view his enemies as America’s enemies.
3. Claiming Sole Savior Role → Success
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Hitler: “Only I can restore Germany’s greatness.”
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Trump: Literally said: “I alone can fix it.”
✅ He has locked in the “cult of personality” that makes him irreplaceable to MAGA.
4. Eroding Institutions → Partial Success
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Hitler: Weakened Reichstag, courts, press immediately.
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Trump:
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Attacks free press (“enemy of the people”).
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Pressured DOJ, military, intelligence agencies.
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Packed Supreme Court & lower courts with loyalists.
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Tried to overturn the 2020 election via state officials, courts, VP.
⚠️ Partially successful. He weakened trust in institutions, but didn’t dismantle them entirely.
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5. Exploiting Emergencies → Failed/Setback
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Hitler: Reichstag Fire gave him emergency powers.
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Trump: Tried to make Jan. 6 and “stolen election” his Reichstag moment. Failed because institutions, courts, and military did not obey.
❌ This is where he failed outright. He’s still trying to reframe Jan. 6 as patriotic, though.
6. Consolidating Power → In Progress
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Hitler: Eliminated rivals, merged powers into Führer.
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Trump:
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Purges GOP of critics (Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, etc.).
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MAGA loyalty test dominates Republican primaries.
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Project 2025 openly lays out a plan to purge government employees and replace them with Trump loyalists.
⚠️ Not yet total control, but he’s reshaped the GOP into a personalist party.
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7. Becoming “Savior of the Nation” → Pending
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Hitler: Built Third Reich myth of restoration.
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Trump: “Make America Great Again” already functions like a nationalist myth. If he wins again, he’ll likely frame it as a total restoration, with fewer checks.
🔜 This is the unfinished step — it depends on winning back the White House.
Trump has been highly successful in steps 1–3 (crisis, scapegoating, savior role), partially successful in steps 4 & 6 (eroding institutions, consolidating power), failed in step 5 (no “Reichstag Fire moment”), and awaiting step 7 (final consolidation as “national savior”).
He is further along than most Americans want to admit — but not yet unstoppable.
Want a closer look? A comparison of Hitler's efforts?
Timeline of Hitler’s rise to absolute power, focusing on how he fostered strife, then cast himself as the “savior,” and a parallel to how Trump operates. Here’s a clear outline:
Hitler’s Path to Total Power (General Timeline)
1919–1923: Exploiting Chaos & Fear
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Post–WWI Germany in economic ruin, humiliation from Treaty of Versailles.
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Hitler joins German Workers’ Party, turns it into the Nazi Party.
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Tactic: Scapegoats (Jews, communists, “November criminals”) for Germany’s problems.
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Parallel to Trump: Constantly identifies enemies (“deep state,” immigrants, media, Democrats) as the reason for America’s decline.
1923: The Beer Hall Putsch
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A failed coup attempt in Munich. Hitler jailed, writes Mein Kampf.
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Learns that seizing power violently won’t work—better to use legal means, then subvert them.
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Parallel: Trump’s Jan. 6 insurrection attempt — a failed coup — followed by a pivot to working through elections, courts, and loyalists.
1924–1929: Building a Movement
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Uses propaganda, rallies, and fear messaging to grow Nazi base.
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Nazi representation in Reichstag still weak.
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Parallel: Trump’s rallies, social media, and MAGA branding build a cult-like movement even before broad electoral success.
1929–1932: Capitalizing on Crisis
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Great Depression devastates Germany.
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Hitler promises to restore pride, jobs, order.
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Nazis surge to become the largest party.
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Parallel: Trump uses crises (economic fear, immigration surges, pandemic chaos) to present himself as the only solution.
1933: Entry into Government
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Appointed Chancellor (not majority support, but elites thought they could “control” him).
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Quickly consolidates power using propaganda and street violence.
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Parallel: Trump elected without majority vote in 2016, enabled by elites who believed they could “manage” him.
1933: Reichstag Fire & “Emergency”
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Reichstag fire (blamed on communists) allows Hitler to suspend civil liberties.
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Reichstag Fire Decree and Enabling Act give him near-total authority.
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Parallel: Trump portrays protests, crime, or elections as crises requiring extraordinary powers. Claimed 2020 election “stolen” as a pretext for extraordinary measures.
1934: Elimination of Rivals
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“Night of the Long Knives”: purge of party enemies and skeptics.
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Death of President Hindenburg → Hitler merges offices of Chancellor & President, becomes Führer.
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Parallel: Trump’s purges of dissenters in his party, loyalty tests, pushing out officials who contradict him (e.g., military, DOJ, election officials).
1935–1939: Total Control & “Savior” Status
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Hitler presented as Germany’s savior — restored pride, rebuilt military, expanded territory.
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By now, opposition crushed, democracy dead.
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Parallel: Trump frames himself as the only one who can “Make America Great Again,” dismisses opposition as enemies of the people, and works to dismantle checks and balances.
Core Pattern (Hitler → Trump)
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Create/Exaggerate Crisis → Germany’s humiliation / America “in decline.”
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Scapegoat → Jews, communists / immigrants, minorities, Democrats.
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Claim Sole Savior Role → Only Hitler / Only Trump can fix it.
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Erode Institutions → Undermine parliament, courts, press / undermine Congress, courts, media.
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Exploit Emergencies → Reichstag fire / Jan. 6, “stolen” election, migrant “invasion.”
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Consolidate Power → Dictatorship / “unitary executive,” loyalists in every branch.
Trump hasn’t achieved full autocracy — but he’s already succeeded in reshaping the GOP into his personal tool, undermining trust in institutions, and convincing millions that only he can save America.
The danger is not that he will repeat Hitler step for step, but that he will deliver his own version of a broken, undemocratic America. The warning signs are here. The choice to stop it is ours.
Cheers! Sláinte! Na zdravie!
Compiled with aid of ChatGP
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