King Trump and the fall of the American Republic?
The tipping point for the Nazi takeover of Germany arguably occurred when President Hindenburg appointed Adolf Hitler as Chancellor. This was the culmination of a long, arduous process the Nazis started in the 1920s.
In the years following the end of World War I and the Treaty of Versailles, the newly formed Weimar Republic was in shambles, reeling with the aftereffects of the war. On the whole, the German populace viewed the loss of the war and the terrible terms of the treaty as a stinging, humiliating defeat.
Playing on that, the Nazis argued Germany had been stabbed in the back by the politicians who agreed to the treaty. They portrayed the Weimer Republic as riddled with corruption and degeneracy, and led by Jews and Marxists – whom they blamed for everything. They projected the idea that Germany was on the brink of a communist revolution and that Hitler was the only person who could solve these problems, and make Germany strong again.
By July 1932, the Nazis had become the largest political party in Germany, amassing 230 out of 608 seats in the Reichstag. On January 30, 1933, the tipping point, Hitler finally maneuvered Hindenburg into to appointing him Chancellor, achieving his long-held goal to lead Germany.
About a month following, the Reichstag building was set on fire – possibly by the Nazis. Seizing the opportunity, Hitler shrewdly blamed the communists, proclaiming the fire to be the prelude of mass terrorist attacks and an imminent communist revolution. Dozens of communists were immediately rounded up and thrown in jail.
In a bid to provide legal cover for the mass arrests and to expand his own power, the next day, Hitler succeeded in getting President Hindenburg to issue the Reichstag Fire Decree. The decree suspended the people’s most basic rights, including the freedom of expression, the right to assemble and organize, and freedom of the press. This was all necessary to ensure public safety.
On March 24, 1933, Hitler made his final power grab when the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act of 1933. This amended the German Constitution, giving him complete dictatorial powers.
The German people bought it, lock stock and barrel. And the rest is history.
While there’s no way to make a direct comparison between Germany of 1933 and today’s United States, nonetheless, there are still some noteworthy parallels. Look at the leaders.
Trump and Hitler share many similarities. For example, their attacks on the democratic processes, their attacks on the news media, their attacks on immigrants and minorities, their contempt for the rule of law, their embrace of extreme nationalism, the way they enriched their elites to bolster their rule, their disdain of labor movements, and their quest for unlimited power – these are all shared traits. And like Hitler, Trump was elected as a someone who would fix everything – he’d make America great again.
Trump’s much-vaunted base gleefully overlooks the facts that he’s a pathological liar, a misogynist, a vengeful petty tyrant, a bully and a malignant narcissist – and that he’s running roughshod over the Constitution of the United States.
Look at his most recent performances.
Following his acquittal in the Senate, Trump’s first acts were to wreak vengeance on those who testified against him. Then he abused his office trying to bully a federal judge into reducing the sentence of his crony, Roger Stone. And in tandem, he abused his power attempting to have the Justice Department unlawfully interfere in Stone’s sentencing. Then finally, after being publicly rebuked by William Barr for interfering in Department of Justice criminal cases, Trump doubled down, incorrectly claiming he had a legal right. And that’s only in the first week after acquittal.
The sham trial and acquittal most strikingly show the cowardice of the Vichy Republicans, and their abandonment of their constitutional oaths. The sham first became apparent when they voted against hearing witnesses like John Bolton who could offer first-hand testimony of Trump’s unlawful actions. It was complete when they voted to acquit claiming lack of evidence. Their hypocrisy was mind-numbing.
There are no checks and balances left; our democratic system is broken. Trump acquitted is a Trump unbound by any rules or laws.
The big question then, is where will Trump unbound go from here?
I’m sure the Germans were asking the same question in early 1933. But no one should have been surprised at what happened after Hitler seized power; Hitler went to great pains to lay out all of his plans well in advance, in Mein Kampf. Trump is no different. Trump’s speeches and tweets offer great insights into his twisted, autocratic thinking.
The recent legal pleadings by Trump’s attorneys also offer great insights. Their main thread, is that “while in office, the president enjoys absolute immunity from any kind of criminal process.” One of his attorneys actually argued that Trump could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and yet the police couldn’t even investigate, much less prosecute.
Clearly, Trump believes he has sovereign immunity. He sees himself as king. Given his penchant for dictators and his other malevolent personality traits, it’s highly doubtful that Trump would be a benevolent king.
Trump is nothing if not an opportunist. The only thing he’s lacking right now is his own Reichstag fire moment. When that comes – and it will come – then like Hitler, he can consolidate his power and get rid of those bothersome laws, and judges and Congress.
Many people foolishly argue that the United States is a mature democracy, with enough checks and balances to prevent the overthrow of our Constitution. That’s wishful thinking. We’ve already crossed the threshold.
Germany in 1933 was a cultured, sophisticated, industrialized nation, but it allowed itself to be led into oblivion – by its lawfully elected leader. The United States is not immune. We are well started down that slippery path.
Trump’s acquittal shows we’re very close to our tipping point. Our “Reichstag fire” moment will surely soon follow.
The coming election may likely be our last chance at saving our democracy. Trump must be defeated. Our Republic cannot be allowed to fall.