The news was recently filled with stories of people comparing Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler, but are these comparisons ‘legitimate?’ By that, I mean, are they accurate and, therefore, warranted? Before we examine these questions, let me first share a few of the many stories on this subject — for those who may not have seen them:
Glenn Beck Compares Trump To Hitler
Another Hitler? How world leaders see Donald Trump
Trump-Hitler Roundup: Here’s Who Compared Donald Trump to Hitler This Weekend
OK, now, whether you love him or hate him, the best story on the comparison of Trump to Hitler is probably the Glenn Beck piece. That is because Beck explains why the comparison is legitimate by pointing out that the people making these comparisons know history better than the average person. By that, Beck means they know who Hitler was before he became known for starting the Holocaust and WW II. The people comparing Trump to Hitler are not saying Trump is the 1939-45 Hitler, but the 1929-1938 Hitler. Hitler was a different person before 1939, and it is that person to whom people are comparing Trump — and as you will soon see, they are correct to do so.
Now, before we begin looking at the similarities, let me suggest that you not look for exact matches. Trump does not need to be repeating, word-for-word, the same things as Hitler to be using the same tactics. Nor does Trump have to advocate the exact same program to be pushing the same agenda. What we have to do is look for things that are similar between the two and then see if they both point to the same underlying agenda and tactics. So, with this in mind, let me share a few useful links and highlight a few key points in them and let you determine whether or not they bear any resemblance to the things Trump has been doing and saying on the campaign trail.
“He would find in this downtrodden people, an audience very willing to listen. In his speeches, Hitler offered the Germans what they needed most, encouragement. He gave them heaps of vague promises while avoiding the details. He used simple catchphrases, repeated over and over….”
Does this sound like Trump and the Trump audience? Does he speak to those who feel they have no voice in government? Does he encourage them? Does he offer a lot of promises without giving any specifics as to how he will affect those promises? Does he stick to repeating simple catch-phrases?
“His campaign appearances were carefully staged events. Audiences were always kept waiting, deliberately letting the tension increase, only to be broken by solemn processions of Brownshirts with golden banners, blaring military music, and finally the appearance of Hitler amid shouts of “Heil!” The effect in a closed in hall with theatrical style lighting and decorations of swastikas was overwhelming and very catching.”
Does Trump carefully orchestrate his rallies in a similar manner? Does he intentionally ‘work the crowed’ to create emotional responses? As Beck recently explained on his radio show, Trump recently gave an interview to Hannity in which the lighting and cameras used were of the quality usually reserved for the movies and never used for Presidential candidates. Is this similar to the theatrics Hitler used?
“Hitler offered something to everyone: work to the unemployed; prosperity to failed business people; profits to industry; expansion to the Army; social harmony and an end of class distinctions to idealistic young students; and restoration of German glory to those in despair. He promised to bring order amid chaos; a feeling of unity to all and the chance to belong. He would make Germany strong again…”
Has Trump made such promises? Has he made them to nearly every group in American society? And has he promised to “make America great again?”
So far, these are all just tactics, and, admittedly, Trump would not be the first to study and employ them:
Donald Trump’s ex-wife once said Trump kept a book of Hitler’s speeches by his bed
Is Obama studying the Hitler handbook?
Now let’s look to see if there are any personality traits that might justify comparing Trump to Hitler:
The Führer Myth: How Hitler Won Over the German People
“I overcame chaos in Germany, restored order, enormously raised production in all fields of our national economy…I succeeded in completely resettling in useful production those 7 million unemployed who so touched our hearts…I have not only politically united the German nation but also rearmed it militarily, and I have further tried to liquidate that Treaty sheet by sheet whose 448 Articles contain the vilest rape that nations and human beings have ever been expected to submit to. I have restored to the Reich the provinces grabbed from us in 1919; I have led millions of deeply unhappy Germans, who have been snatched away from us, back into the Fatherland; I have restored the thousand-year-old historical unity of German living space; and I have attempted to accomplish all that without shedding blood and without inflicting the sufferings of war on my people or any other. I have accomplished all this, as one who 21 years ago was still an unknown worker and soldier of my people, by my own efforts…”
Does Trump ever stress the “I, I, I, all by myself and my own efforts” mantra?
“Hitler was certainly gifted in some subjects, but he lacked self-control. He was argumentative and bad-tempered, and unable to submit to school discipline….moreover, he was lazy. He reacted with hostility to advice or criticism. (Humer)“
Has Trump ever shown a lack of self control, or impatience or, more importantly, a tendency to act with hostility toward those who disagree with or criticize him?
Has Trump ever encouraged the use of violence against those who oppose him? Have his supporters ever used violence against those who oppose Trump? Has he repudiated that violence in a convincing manner?
Has Trump ever shown a tendency to blame a group or set of groups for either his personal failures or the troubles of the nation?
Has Trump ever claimed he is going to be the savior and defender of Christianity?
Has Trump ever promised he will restore economic prosperity without explaining how?
Has Trump ever suggested the nation needs government healthcare and/or the confiscation of firearms?
Has Trump ever demanded his supporters swear a loyalty oath?
Has Trump ever said that the military will obey him — even if he issues unconstitutional/unlawful orders?
Has he ever shown intolerance, either toward religion or ethnic minorities?
Has Trump ever threatened his political opponents with the use of government force?
Has Trump ever given any indication that he would claim credit for and plaster his name over everything the nation does?
Has Trump used the ‘royal we’ in referring to the nation? By that, has he used the word “we” when he really means himself?
If you have been paying attention to the campaign, and if you will be honest with yourself, then you know the answer to every question I have asked about Trump is yes! If you disagree, I can post video of Trump saying or doing every last one of these points. This really isn’t a matter of ‘opinion;’ it is a fact that can be demonstrated by Trump, himself. All one has to do is look for it and you will find the video — unedited –of Trump affirming everything I just said. Therefore, yes, it is legitimate to compare Trump to Hitler — the 1929-1938 Hitler.
However, we must not overlook how the 1939-1945 Hitler was created. As Hitler seized more and more power, the people grew more afraid of him. Rather than opposing him when he was still weak and could have been stopped, they supported and praised him. In many ways, he bought them off, so they allowed him to continue. This gave Hitler more confidence that he was the savior of Germany, and he acted accordingly. Then, in 1938-39, when Hitler started using the military against neighboring nations, the world appeased him. Instead of opposing him when he could have been stopped relatively easily, the world gave in to his demands and looked the other way when he invaded other sovereign nations. So how would a narcissistic individual with an insecurity complex and a messianic delusion react when he saw that no one in the world was willing to oppose him? By convincing himself he was unstoppable because he was incapable of doing any wrong. Well, for those of us who see the warning signs, this is exactly what we fear we may create if we elect Trump to the Presidency.
Others will disagree, to be sure. But then, this is how we, as a species, keep repeating history: by being too stupid to actually learn from it and then act prudently in the future.
I suppose this leaves us with just one last question: is it still permissible to speak the truth to power? If so, then why does the comparison of Trump to Hitler offend so many people? But if not, doesn’t that actually affirm the comparison?
ADDENDUM: 13 March
Some of my readers have suggested I have been unfair to Trump. That I should be accusing Hillary and Sanders of being like Hitler because of the violence at the recent Trump rally. Well, first, I’d like to point out that I wrote this post about Trump, not Hillary or Sanders — and I wrote it before the Trump rally. But, even with the Trump rally in mind, the way Trump and his supporters have responded has demonstrated — through actions — that he is no different than they are. Here are just a few of the stories that demonstrate this:
Trump Looking into Paying Legal Fees of Man Who Punched Protester
By making it public knowledge that he will pay for the legal defense of anyone who physically attacks his opponents, Trump is openly supporting and even encouraging that violence. This is similar to the way Hitler encouraged the brown shirts to do his dirty work.
This is an open threat to the Sanders’ campaign. This makes Trump little different from the people who disrupted his rally. it also solidifies the comparisons of Trump to Hitler.
On top of this, it is fallacious (bad reasoning) to argue that a comparison between Trump and Hitler is false because you can make the same comparison between Hillary or Sanders and Hitler. If the shoe fits, then it applies to whomever it fits. This does not mean Trump is the only one who can rightly be compared to Hitler. The same can easily be said about the majority of the Democrat Party and Republican leadership — because it is true. They all use the tactics of control. But the purpose of this post was not to excuse one person by pointing the finger at others. It was to explain why the comparison of Trump to Hitler is valid, and I believe I have more than made that case.
[NOTE: I no longer think of my voice as anything special. There was a time when I believed I had something important to say, but not so much these days. I write now because I feel driven to do so. Something inside me will not let me rest until I post the pages you just read. I’d just as soon not bother anymore. It all seems like no one is listening and I do more harm than good. So I have come to trust that whatever it is driving me has all this under control. Personally, I believe it is God, but others may not. All I ask is that, if anything I write helps you, or you think it might help others in any way, please, share this page. Re-blog it, share it on FB or send the link to your friends. So long as you feel it will do more good than harm, then please, use this page however you wish. Thank you.]
The Oil for Your Lamp 
Reblogged this on The Rio Norte Line.
Very well said!
Included a link to your post in my blog post today.
I never dreamed that Americans would be fooled again (a third time!!!) by the likes of another presidential candidate that shows so many of the same traits and signs that led to evil leaders like Hitler and 0bama! The similarities are truly chilling and should serve as a warning! I pray that such warnings as yours reach millions and demonstrate to them that who they end up supporting in this upcoming election matters greatly for our current and future generations here in America!
Thanks. However, if this matters, I’d like to make sure people understand I no longer look at an individual (i.e. Obama/Trump/etc) and think they are the sole reason for the events in our society. I have come to understand they are just pawns in this game. The cause is the spirit which drives them — which is why we can have so many different people across many generations all seem to serve the same agenda(s): the spirit driving them is eternal. It is why people do not seem to change: because the spirits which influence us have not changed.
I just wish this nation would return to God and repent of our ways and seek His face and forgiveness. If we did this, we might have a chance. But we’d rather chase after people possessed of a rebellious spirit than submit to the Lord. And we wonder why things keep getting worse 😦
I certainly understand what you are saying. Non-believers can’t see what we see in these evil-spirit-led individuals because of their blindness to the things of the Spirit of God. The words of Jesus in John 6:63 come to mind:
I hear you about hoping that our nation would repent and turn back to God. We had a glimpse of this happening right after the horror of 9/11/01. But how quickly people forget and abandoned such prayers!
I actually think the Hitler analogy has already been hit. And there are numerous example…..La Voy Finicum as just one of many domestic victims.
As Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz stated….we don’t have to look any further than our own backyard. And our Backyard is DC and Chicago…..just the latest Control grab :
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/obama-says-cannot-legal-case-apple-inc-223034884–finance.html
I do not watch “The Greg Gutfeld Show” on Fox News, but it came on while I was typing at my computer so it just became background noise. One segment was all about making fun of the “Trump sounding like Hitler meme” out there.
They obviously missed your post!
Perhaps Trump won’t become the 1938 Hitler turned dictator/Holocaust Hitler. But if we are to learn our lessons from the past (even the recent past of the 0bama BADministration) then people should be more discerning than they currently are about Trump! Sadly, many young people of the millennial generation DON’T KNOW HISTORY and have also blinded their eyes to the destruction that 0bama has done over the past 7+ years. So, these foolish young people get behind Socialist Sanders, or the liar Hillary, or someone like Trump who thinks he knows it all and cast votes for these people without considering the further damage that would be done against America. I shake my head in disbelief!
I have also found that many do not want to hear WHY they are in error to support such candidates! They have been indoctrinated so deeply and thoroughly by far leftist propaganda in schools, colleges, by the media, and by the liars in politics in order to turn them against the truth of the Bible and Gospel of Jesus Christ; that they absolutely REFUSE to think outside of their narrow “progressive” box!
Can you believe that one successful 32 year-old business man had said to me that many people are saying that Cruz reminds them of Dracula…and this is supposed to be a reason not to listen to what he has to say? I also saw the cartoon character of “Count Dracula” pictured next to Cruz as a reason why no one should vote for him!
What is this?? Kindergarten?
*sigh*
That particular young man also thinks that 0vomitcare is a success!
*double sigh*
I truly wonder how long it is going to take to get 7 years of 0bama lies exposed and taken out of the heads of these ignorant young people!!!
The people about which you speak would openly support Lincoln — today. But if he were actually running today, they would not. They would be making fun of him based on looks and not on substance — just like they do with Cruz.
All I can say as that those who do so are demonstrating that they are not responsible enough to vote in a free republic. They are qualified to vote in a democracy, because democracies are just stepping stones to Anarchy/Dictatorship, but they are not qualified to participate in a free society. Why? Because free societies place demands on the individual to be responsible to the whole and NOT themselves. In other words, a duty to vote for the ideal based upon reason and not upon desire based on emotion.
What’s worse is that this person refused to look at anything I wanted to share that was negative about 0bama, Hillary or Sanders. He did agree with me regarding Trump, but he refuses to hear what I have to share regarding the fact that they are all from the same evil spirit!
This is most likely due to fear: the fear that, if they listen and learn they are wrong, they will have to confront the implications of what that says about them.
We must have compassion for them. We do not budge or soften our position. NO COMPROMISE ON RIGHTEOUSNESS! But love, mercy and compassion to those we are trying to help see the light 🙂
I think you are right about that – they have the fear that they are wrong and don’t want to face it or be confronted about it.
He is of another faith, but is more secular than religious about it. I do show love to this individual in what I say and do for him, his wife, and their baby. He recently asked me the definition of “evangelicals.” I gave him a short answer but want to share a more detailed response when the time is right. He is also on my prayer list, as well as the prayer list of several family members.
This is all we are called to do 🙂