The American March To Fascism...
FASCISM on the march in the USA. Donald J. Trump is a fascist. His pictures plastered on buildings in preparation for his birthday parade and celebration is exactly what authoritarian fascism, communism, and kingdoms do. His malignant narcissism and sociopathy drives him to demand fealty and obedience to his person. Self aggrandizement is a staple of Trump's personality and he is incapable of putting it to sleep.
And now, on to the short article.
"This Is Deeply Fascist": The Internet Is Responding After A Giant Banner Of Trump's Face Was Placed On A Government Building
A large banner of Donald Trump's official portrait now hangs prominently on the U.S. Department of Agriculture building in Washington, D.C. It is set against text that reads, "USDA, Growing America since 1862."
The installation coincided with the USDA's 163rd anniversary. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins shared images of the banner's installation on social media alongside a message declaring that after 163 years, "the best is yet to come." She credited President Trump's "bold vision" for "ushering in a Golden Age for our farmers."
Online, however, the reaction has been intense. Many say that the prominent display of the nation's highest-ranking public figure bears an unsettling resemblance to imagery familiar in authoritarian regimes, where portraits of leaders are used to assert dominance and remind citizens of their power. Think "Big Brother" of George Orwell's book 1984.
@peoplefor / Via x.com
MANDEL NGAN / AFP via Getty Images
Historical parallels quickly followed. One example: Adolf Hitler, whose image became a symbol of the Nazi regime in similar public displays. Here it is on the UFA headquarters, a Berlin-based film company central to Nazi propaganda, in 1939 for his birthday.
Or, the portraits of Stalin that loomed over Soviet streets, elevating him to an almost god-like status who is always watching — like this one in Leningrad.
As one commenter pointed out, this kind of visual dominance is also common among today’s controversial leaders. Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro have all displayed their likenesses prominently in public spaces.
The comparisons have struck a nerve online.
"Yeah right .." one person wrote in response to Sec. Rollins' tweet of the banner. "Different country different century but the same vibe," they continued, attaching a propaganda poster of Stalin.
"This is deeply fascist," wrote Fred Wellman, an army combat veteran and the host of the On Democracy podcast, in a viral tweet.
Political commentator and MSNBC analyst Tim Miller added, "Its interesting that these freedom loving MAGA alpha males want to institute this deeply creepy 3rd world culture where we have a national daddy that must be obeyed."
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