We should be worried

Ammon

16-02-2025

"This was how twentieth-century fascism began: with a magnetic leader exploiting widespread dissatisfaction by promising all things." — Madeleine Albright
The above written quote is from Madeleine Albright's book 'Fascism'. In her book she discusses fascism in the twentieth century and argues that we should be worried. She titles the book as a warning. The former Secretary of State under Bill Clinton's presidency stresses that fascism is not an ideology but rather a process, one that is about controlling power.
This raises an important question: Are we witnessing similar warning signs today?
Although she stated in an interview that Donald Trump is not a fascist, she emphasized that he is one of the presidents least aligned with democracy in U.S. history. Nevertheless, Trump's statements, as well as his approach to solving both global and domestic problems, raise serious concerns.
Therefore, let's briefly discuss the 45th and 47th president of the United States, who has a different approach to world issues, who tends to insert the political conflicts into construction boxes, and deal with countries using a corporate eye, and leaders as rivals. Trump managed to become a master of populist propaganda, and he fearlessly claims either directly or indirectly that the U.S. governing system is corrupt and ineffective. But is it really? And why is Trump's populism spreading not only in the United States but across the world?
The answer to these questions is complex, though it is not a complete mystery. Trump is the outcome of the collision of many factors. He is the sum of different sectors that emerged and rose to power in the United States. Navigating these sectors gave him valuable experience, and he was deeply involved in each one of them.
Trump was born with a silver spoon—a father who built his wealth and decided to send his son to a military academy where he learned discipline. Later, he entered the real estate business at his father's company. Real estate is an industry that involves people from different economic levels and social layers, and this business holds significant financial power, and requires regular interaction with politicians. Most importantly, 'who owns the land owns the power.' Trump understood this well. His rise through the ranks of power in the U.S. was shaped by an environment that often breeds arrogance and narcissism; especially for those at the top, like him.
While his real estate empire gave him wealth and power, it was his venture into entertainment that made him a household name. He did not enter show business through a traditional artistic route, nor did he go through just one door. Instead, he became Donald Trump—his life became his legacy. He was involved in sports, movies, and various forms of media. With a vast network of connections and a strong narcissistic drive, Trump developed into an individual who combined anarchy with extreme discipline.
A man who respects only himself, a man who achieved the dreams of many men, a man who entered multiple fields and became a tycoon, or sometimes a tornado in each of them.
Then, thinking 'why not?"—believing that everything is just another reality show, that all battles can be won—Trump decided to enter politics, some argue that he was fueled by passion and resentment after Obama's famous public roasting of him. Nevertheless, Trump who has changed his political affiliation multiple times, from Republican to Democrat to Independent, had still viewed life from a reality TV perspective, never taking anything too seriously. For him, it has always been a show—and he is always the protagonist!
Returning to Madeleine Albright's warning: Is Trump the fascist we should be worried about? Or is he just the beginning of a snowball effect that will bring even more extreme figures to power? Will populist politics, extracted from ideologies rooted in racism and self-centered nationalism, gain even greater strength?
Trump's support did not come only from certain ideological groups or members of his political party in the United States. Even people who were not naturally his supporters backed him because they were tired and exhausted from the previous political establishment. And here lies the real warning. Additionally, Trump became a global movement—a new pole against the established Americanization across the globe. From within the United States, a counterforce emerged against the very power that once managed to defeat the Soviet Union, and it does bear some similarities—something that can be observed in Albright's book. So, is this the new global movement? And is the support that Trump received, either directly or indirectly, from various world leaders a clear hint of this shift? Leaders such as Putin, Viktor Orbán, Netanyahu, and Marine Le Pen represent specific ideological directions, and having Trump align with them is not something that should be overlooked or dismissed lightly.
Donald Trump is not the cause of worries himself, or the direct cause of danger, but rather, it is the political methods that have been used in recent years. These methods have paved the way for more politically extreme figures like Trump to reach office, often with the backing of influential economic figures like Elon Musk, money and politics have always been on the same side, and one can't be without the other, but always there have been a certain connection between them that cannot and should not ever exceed its limit, as these element if merged in an extreme dose might cause great damage, and history is filled with examples.
Hence, the recent world is a warning to all political powers of the Western world: step back for a moment. Return to the principles of peace and prosperity that were established after World War II. Indeed, modern democracies require reforms, new policies and economic structures must be developed. But Trump's right-wing populism use is not the correct formula for achieving this.
During the rise of Mussolini, Churchill referred to him as 'the greatest lawgiver among living men,' while newspapers in Italy emphasized his superhuman abilities and portrayed him as a messianic figure. We all know what followed and the consequences of Mussolini's reign. Hence, everything happening in our world right now is a warning, even if it is still in its early stages. We should be worried!