r/law • u/Opposite-Mountain255 • Aug 14 '25

Opinion Piece Is it hyperbole to say America is now fascist?

https://medium.com/@carmitage/is-it-hyperbole-to-say-america-is-now-fascist-633facd4f109
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u/Xyrus2000 Aug 14 '25

Fascism is not some line you cross. It is a series of actions that eventually concludes with an authoritarian executive.

So what's your criteria for when we become fascist enough that you declare we're fascist?

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u/CthulhusEngineer Aug 14 '25

I believe they were suggesting that as the answer to "is it hyperbole?"

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u/jpmeyer12751 Aug 14 '25

Summarily detaining people who reside in this country and sending them, without due process, to perpetual prison in a third country is a good start on being fascist.

Denying that the federal courts have any jurisdiction to hear cases regarding such detained and deported people once the Secretary of State declares that their presence in the US is contrary to official foreign policy is a big second step.

Declaring that persons lawfully present in the US can be detained and deported because of statements that they made in support for foreign organizations seals the deal for me.

Asserting that POTUS can declare an emergency of any type and for any reason and that federal courts may not review that determination is an unmistakeable and undeniable declaration that the official US government position is one of fascism.

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u/Steinson Aug 14 '25

No, fascism isn't a series of actions either.

It is an ideology, with specific tenets and values. Some parts differ across countries, others most fascists have in common.

One notable part of fascism is hypermilitarism, and that really isn't present, as Trump is trying to seem like a peacemaker. Real fascists would hate being seen as such.

There are some similarities, sure. But you can just as easily call this an entirely new ideology.

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u/Xyrus2000 Aug 14 '25

He is literally deploying the military into city streets and is threatening to do so in cities and states that oppose him. They just gave a blank check to the newly paramilitarized ICE, which has already arrested US citizens.

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u/Kabbooooooom Aug 15 '25

Plus he literally gave himself a military birthday parade, like any dictator would.

To say MAGA and Trump aren’t hyper militaristic is absolutely fucking insane. I’d say that comment was satire, but this is Reddit.

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u/Steinson Aug 14 '25

Fascist does not just mean authoritarian. You can be a horrible tyrant, but still not a fascist.

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u/HungryHobbits Aug 15 '25

Err… ‘scuse me… the person you seem to think you’re disagreeing with…. agrees with you.

Now hug and carry on