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Vox article on whether Trump is a fascist

Reader comment on item: There's a Name for Trump's Brand of Politics: Neo-fascism

Submitted by PezDispenser (Israel), May 20, 2016 at 14:46

Dr. Pipes,

A writer at VOX interviewed several fascism "experts" who come to the conclusion that Trump is not fascist, but a right wing populist similar to Le Pen and Wilders:

http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2015/12/10/9886152/donald-trump-fascism

Do you see any merit to their arguments? If not, would it be accurate to categorize those European populist leaders also as neo-fascists, or are they more committed to democracy and liberty than Trump?

Finally, notice the absurdity at the bottom of the article: CAIR is shown as a victim even though they are the representatives of the Islamic strain of fascism!

Submitting....

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Daniel Pipes replies:

"Fascist" is a difficult word to define and find agreement on. I specifically used the word neo-fascist. In his disdain for democratic institutions, Trump is worthy of this adjective.

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Reader comments (128) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
One tryanny replaces another [200 words]Michael CaraxFeb 28, 2017 08:46237052
Update to Attitudes About Trump [65 words]Steve HandyOct 24, 2019 04:53237052
15Alleged Mussolini quote originally from Tipu Sultan... [858 words]Daniel BamfordJul 25, 2016 11:37230856
Just want to point out that Britain First, is in no way, shape or form a paramilitary group [35 words]Simon ElderNov 27, 2020 13:13230856
2Case is not proven [1327 words]KellseyJul 25, 2016 08:19230845
2Demagogy is not the same as Fascism [121 words]Jack TuckerJul 25, 2016 00:46230839
6Trump's only sin, is that he didn't graduate Harvard or Yale. [244 words]Michael SJul 29, 2016 05:02230839
Trump is Ivy League [39 words]Jay HallMay 12, 2017 20:11230839
1The Harvard-Yale-Columbia clique [427 words]Michael SMay 14, 2017 19:07230839
4Will Trump also be blamed for killing the policemen? [772 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Michael S.Jul 8, 2016 17:33230321
2Trump and the media [56 words]dhimmi no moreJul 9, 2016 06:04230321
1Crooked, Lying Hillary. Also, Trump is blamed for Dallas shootings [175 words]Michael SJul 10, 2016 22:19230321
1I'm impressed by Mike Pence's interview [1053 words]Michael SJul 16, 2016 18:26230321
2President Hillary [12 words]Michael SJul 1, 2016 04:32230230
3Trump vs Clinton [310 words]
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Charles MartelJun 30, 2016 15:02230221
1LIBERALS LISTEN [133 words]NJul 5, 2016 08:57230221
2Trump and the Brexit vote [111 words]dhimmi no moreJun 26, 2016 08:19230163
2Trump's only "drawback" is that he's a real American who understands real Americans [776 words]Michael SJul 1, 2016 19:41230163
Valid points but who is left as a candidate? [110 words]CaraxJun 23, 2016 16:36230129
3I respectfully disagree [293 words]KathyJun 16, 2016 15:54230037
1Happy Shavu'ot [651 words]
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Michael SJun 10, 2016 04:16229919
5Why we need Trump [88 words]Frank LukeJun 7, 2016 10:54229865
3Trump's detractors do not appreciate the independence of the judiciary [59 words]Michael SJun 4, 2016 04:17229817
1Scholars beginning to worry about Trump [81 words]PezDispenserJun 3, 2016 15:06229811
4Stop calling Zionists "Fascists" and "Nazis [106 words]Michael SJun 6, 2016 17:12229811
Scholarship on Zion [273 words]M ToveyJun 23, 2016 16:23229811
Turkey and Russia friends again: implications for Israel [675 words]Michael SJul 2, 2016 02:35229811
American Administration Vacillation Between Turkey and Russia Against Israel [440 words]M ToveyJul 5, 2016 11:33229811
A horrible persecution coming [1374 words]Michael SJul 9, 2016 04:46229811
Persecution of the True Church Ends at the Beginning of the Seven Year Purge [124 words]M ToveyJul 11, 2016 11:35229811
Putin and Erdogan are alike uninteresting [125 words]Michael SJul 18, 2016 20:52229811
An article that supports your view [18 words]PezDispenserMay 29, 2016 15:03229725
Vox article on whether Trump is a fascist [94 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
PezDispenserMay 20, 2016 14:46229547
Gary Johnson [52 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Anne JulienneMay 13, 2016 08:29229444
Goldman and Glick [105 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Anne JulienneMay 13, 2016 04:36229435
A way to defeat Trump [48 words]PezDispenserMay 8, 2016 16:38229353
a conscience vote at best [155 words]Anne JulienneMay 9, 2016 03:47229353
5Study Fascism and laugh at the comparison [339 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
CharlesMay 5, 2016 05:17229290
Cultural environment. [30 words]Alien RepublicanJul 25, 2016 01:56229290
2Republicans of Pennsylvania [268 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Anne JulienneApr 28, 2016 01:31229172
a sad outcome [136 words]Anne JulienneMay 1, 2016 18:42229172
Democracy in the English-speaking world [326 words]Michael SMay 2, 2016 15:49229172
The flexibility and strength of the US political system [277 words]Michael SMay 4, 2016 03:16229172
two parties still "rigid" [177 words]Anne JulienneMay 7, 2016 02:52229172
1Noises coming from Donald's Rump [124 words]David FarerApr 24, 2016 09:22229133
"Apr. 11, 2016 update: Daniel Krauthammer ..." [163 words]yonasonApr 21, 2016 19:37229099
Trump = Mussolini; Cruz = Lucifer. I think we've hit rock bottom. [109 words]Michael SApr 30, 2016 17:51229099
Interesting Observations [58 words]yonasonMay 1, 2016 01:33229099
Gut feelings are important [279 words]Michael SMay 2, 2016 11:27229099
2Inappropriate term for Trump [707 words]HistorianApr 18, 2016 01:35228998
Inappropriate term for Trump [709 words]HistorianApr 18, 2016 01:27228997
1I Agree [90 words]yonasonApr 21, 2016 19:01228997
The Trump effect has trickled down to schools [74 words]PezDispenserApr 14, 2016 15:41228963
8Nothing further from the truth [30 words]SunshineApr 13, 2016 18:28228946
4Questions For Dr. Pipes [59 words]yonasonApr 13, 2016 02:26228929
5Clear misrepresentation of Donald J Trump [150 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Larry BatesApr 12, 2016 12:46228917
Yom HaShoah defiled [59 words]Michael SApr 11, 2016 15:52228887
1Because the Gestapo only targeted Jews?! [107 words]UNCLE VLADDIApr 12, 2016 18:59228887
1Making an important distinction [112 words]Michael SApr 15, 2016 04:00228887
1We need to can the hype [89 words]Michael SApr 17, 2016 10:39228887
3Soros' "Brown-Shirts Lives Matter" is Indeed Gestapo-Lite [417 words]UNCLE VLADDIApr 18, 2016 03:54228887
George Soros, Mark Zuckerman and the Gestapo (a heavy metal rock group?) [817 words]Michael SApr 21, 2016 14:21228887
Dig a Little Deeper on Soros [89 words]UNCLE VLADDIApr 23, 2016 01:50228887
1Yes. Dig Deeper. [34 words]yonasonMay 1, 2016 03:12228887
1Soros and millions of other Jews [18 words]Michael SMay 4, 2016 11:04228887
Israeli Arab leftist 'poet' upset for questions at airport, shows his anti-black racism. Haaretz publishes his piece [481 words]MelindaOct 24, 2021 15:31228887
1"ABD" is the Muslim Arabs' own original "N-Word" for Blacks [81 words]UNCLE VLADDIOct 25, 2021 14:31228887
1Here Are Your Fascists - And They Are All Democrats! [9 words]yonasonApr 11, 2016 04:02228874
Yes, alas, we are all Fascists. [485 words]Michael SApr 23, 2016 20:00228874
4"Arrogance" or "Frustration?" "Fascism" or "Leadership"? [357 words]UNCLE VLADDIApr 10, 2016 19:14228866
1Congratulations for your accusation [165 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
BillApr 10, 2016 18:53228862
There's A Name For Your Kind Of Journalism [50 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
yonasonApr 10, 2016 17:10228860
1Response To Dr. Pipes' Response [12 words]yonasonMay 15, 2016 22:10228860
Is Trump USA? [56 words]ArnieApr 10, 2016 16:06228853
1New wine on new bottles [88 words]KesselmanApr 10, 2016 14:13228847
2Our government [19 words]CoriApr 10, 2016 09:55228841
FDR [30 words]AlbertEApr 9, 2016 20:30228833
1Where Were You in 2008? [87 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Brian KovackApr 9, 2016 17:40228828
1Neo fascist Donald.... [252 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
PWApr 9, 2016 10:18228822
To Dr. Pipes Response [65 words]yonasonApr 13, 2016 02:36228822
What do you mean by reading a book? [205 words]TL WinslowApr 8, 2016 11:52228805
2Do a neo-communist article, please [30 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
TJ AvatariciApr 8, 2016 11:42228804
Benghazi Wasn't An Affect [83 words]yonasonApr 13, 2016 14:07228804
... your analysis [372 words]Leon KushnerApr 8, 2016 10:54228802
4Trump is NOT a fascist by any stretch of imagination [200 words]SatyaApr 8, 2016 10:52228801
Riding a big wave [293 words]CharlesMay 9, 2016 13:57228801
2We don't need a MuSSolini in the US ,but we need the Patriotic Crusaders [119 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Michael Hanni MorcosApr 8, 2016 10:29228799
Breathtaking Article [123 words]AlexApr 8, 2016 10:08228795
Interested in the source on something mentioned in the article [47 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
LinApr 8, 2016 09:55228794
1Thank you [49 words]Glenna GeigerApr 8, 2016 09:37228793
4....who's your template? [371 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
JEROME GELBApr 8, 2016 09:07228792
the gesture of force above reason [18 words]mythApr 8, 2016 04:01228781
1If not Trump, who ? [20 words]
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CARLOS DESOUZAApr 8, 2016 03:10228780
Dr. Pipes Supports Ted Cruz? Really? [33 words]yonasonApr 13, 2016 13:55228780
Trump [6 words]Jan LapterApr 8, 2016 02:39228779
8Yes, Neo-Fascist Donald, But Obama Was That [164 words]Sofa SogoodApr 8, 2016 01:32228777
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We live in perillous times; Trump and Cruz are the most honest, rational and predictable [508 words]Michael SApr 8, 2016 19:12228776
3Twenty-three days to Pesach. [87 words]Michael S.Apr 7, 2016 22:26228773
CHAG KASHER V'SAMEACH [6 words]yonasonApr 8, 2016 14:09228773
1A joyous and kosher Passover to you too :-) [192 words]Michael SApr 11, 2016 22:17228773
1Trump seems to be the Obama 2.0 [121 words]StefanApr 7, 2016 22:08228770
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17... [With all due respect] [124 words]SunshineApr 7, 2016 21:28228768
1I too am a Trump Supporter but not a neo-fascist [286 words]Leon KushnerApr 8, 2016 14:44228768
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1Speaking of fascists ......... [12 words]dianne gallenApr 7, 2016 20:39228767
3One man's xenophobia is another man's romantic nobel savage [204 words]donApr 7, 2016 19:41228764
18TRUMP IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR! [550 words]UNCLE VLADDIApr 7, 2016 19:19228763
2Well Said [39 words]yonasonApr 8, 2016 14:18228763
3Trump A Reaction To Obama's Extreme Egalitarianism [155 words]DaveApr 7, 2016 18:24228762
Brilliant article. [173 words]Stephen ClaytonApr 7, 2016 17:46228761
neo-fascist [68 words]VijayApr 7, 2016 17:36228760
13worried about neo-fascisim? too late for that [107 words]Bill PikeApr 7, 2016 17:34228759
Indeed [22 words]yonasonApr 8, 2016 14:23228759
3misinterpreted picture [49 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Dr. Timothy HadleyApr 7, 2016 17:11228758
[ customary] [98 words]Januk36Apr 8, 2016 06:25228758
you're probably right [40 words]Dr. Timothy HadleyApr 8, 2016 17:12228758
Rebirth of the America First Committee [23 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
PezDispenserApr 7, 2016 16:36228757
1First [31 words]AlbertE.Apr 9, 2016 20:39228757
"America First" [45 words]PezDispenserApr 12, 2016 10:10228757
Nailed It! [26 words]Bob CarlApr 7, 2016 16:23228756
It's a Ruse [116 words]DarwinbApr 7, 2016 16:15228755
1Blame The Messenger [127 words]yonasonApr 8, 2016 14:39228755
Conspiracy theory [42 words]Leon KushnerApr 9, 2016 09:48228755
1You've GOT To Be Kidding! [196 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
yonasonApr 7, 2016 16:00228754
1I've Read The Article Carefully Enough [112 words]yonasonApr 16, 2016 23:12228754

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