Home › Robert Clifton Robinson › Correctly Defining The Historical Terms: “Nazi, Fascist, Gestapo, and Racist,” In Comparison With Their Modern Usage

Correctly Defining The Historical Terms: “Nazi, Fascist, Gestapo, and Racist,” In Comparison With Their Modern Usage

By on • ( 1 )

Today, many people use terms that were distinctive of bad behavior in the past, but lack validity when applied to persons or organizations they are applied to today.

Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, Woodrow Wilson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump

The above image represent the seven American presidents who, at different times, have been accused by critics of behaviors or rhetoric associated with Nazi, Fascist, Gestapo, or Racist labels — though not all were accused of all four.

It is common today for persons who are not able to debate a subject, to call the person in opposition, derogatory names. In the science of debate one of the first principles a professional debater learns is that when your opponent cannot answer you with an intelligent response, they will resort to personal attacks. This is a sign to all who are watching the discussion that the person who is attacking their opponent rather than providing an intellectual answer, has lost the debate.

Name calling is a juvenile response that is found in children, not adults. The best approach in a debate is to educate yourself in the subject you are seeking to debate so that you know how to answer every objection. Education is also necessary before a debate because it is impossible to debate anything that you don’t understand.

People who are not prepared to debat will often lose their composure, become agitated, angry, and begin to call their opponent names. This is no more clearly seen that in politics. People are not interested in learning about the subjects they want to debate, and when they enter into a discussion that they are not prepared for, anger begins, and sometime elevates into physical confrontation.

The First Amendment was created to allow for peaceful debate and the exchange of ideas. When people do not debate subjects that concern them they often turn to name calling and violence When a person calls another by terms such as “Nazi, Fascist, Gestapo, and Racist,” they have lost the discussion. These are terms that should be used only on occasions when the term is correctly applicable, not when a person is angry like a child who doesn’t get their way.

In the following portion of this essay we will examine the usage of these five terms as they are being applied today to the members of the Republican Political Party. Looking back all the way to President Andrew Jackson, these names that are being handed out like candy today, were also incorrectly applied to the seven presidents displayed in the above image.

Usage of the terms: “Nazi, Fascist, Gestapo, Racist”

  • Nazi: Only Trump has been directly compared with Nazi rhetoric by critics (e.g., “vermin,” “blood,” “Gestapo”). Earlier presidents (Jackson, Johnson, Wilson, Nixon, Reagan, Bush) were not widely called Nazis.
  • Fascist: Nixon, Reagan, Bush, and Trump have been called fascist (or authoritarian) by critics. Jackson retroactively gets this label from some historians.
  • Gestapo: Nixon, Bush, and Trump (due to surveillance, federal policing, and immigration enforcement) were accused of “Gestapo tactics.”
  • Racist: Jackson, Johnson, Wilson, Nixon, Reagan, and Trump have all been called racist. Bush on occasion.

Are these terms correctly assigned to these American Presidents?

“Nazi”

Definition: “Nazi” is a shortened form of Nationalsozialist, referring to a member of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP), or National Socialist German Workers’ Party, which ruled Germany under Adolf Hitler from 1933–1945.

The Historical Background: Founded in 1920, the NSDAP grew out of post–World War I German nationalism, resentment of the Treaty of Versailles, and anti-Communist and anti-Semitic ideology.

Hitler became its leader in 1921, and by 1933, after political maneuvering and widespread propaganda, the party gained power. Nazi ideology combined ultranationalism, racial purity doctrines (especially anti-Semitism), authoritarianism, and militarism. The Nazi regime instigated World War II and perpetrated the Holocaust, murdering six million Jews and millions of others deemed “undesirable.”

The Historical meaning: Refers specifically to members or ideology of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP) under Adolf Hitler (1920–1945). This term implies a system of totalitarian rule, aggressive expansionism, genocidal anti-Semitism, and Aryan racial supremacy.

The Modern usage: Often used as a slur or exaggeration to describe authoritarian leaders or individuals with extreme nationalist or racist views. Sometimes applied to internet “Neo-Nazis,” who consciously revive elements of Nazi ideology.

Is This Term Accurate For These Seven Presidents?

Calling modern politicians or groups “Nazis” is usually historically inaccurate, unless they explicitly embrace Nazi ideology (swastikas, Hitler admiration, Holocaust denial). None of these seven presidents have embraced the historical use of the term Nazi. In most cases, the term is used metaphorically to mean “extreme authoritarian” or “racist,” but this dilutes the historical reality of the Third Reich.

Scholarly note: Historian Richard J. Evans warns against “Hitler analogies” because they oversimplify and distort historical understanding of Nazism (The Third Reich in History and Memory, 2015).

Sources:

  1. Ian Kershaw, Hitler: A Biography (W. W. Norton, 2008).
  2. Richard J. Evans, The Third Reich in Power (Penguin, 2006).
  3. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM): Nazi Party.

“Fascist”

Definition: A “fascist” is an adherent of fascism, a far-right, authoritarian ultranationalist ideology emphasizing dictatorial power, suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and the economy.

The Historical Background: Originated with Benito Mussolini in Italy after World War I. The term comes from fasces, a Roman symbol of authority (a bundle of rods with an axe). Mussolini founded the Partito Nazionale Fascista in 1921 and established a dictatorship in Italy by 1925. Fascism rejected liberal democracy, promoted state control, glorified war, and often incorporated elements of corporatism. Nazi ideology in Germany was a variant of fascism, with added racial doctrines.

The Historical meaning: Refers to the Fascist regime of Benito Mussolini in Italy (1922–1943) and related authoritarian-nationalist movements in Europe (e.g., Franco’s Spain, Salazar’s Portugal). Hallmarks: dictatorship, suppression of opposition, militarism, and ultranationalism.

The Modern usage: Frequently applied to politicians or organizations who are authoritarian, populist, or nationalist. Critics often use “fascist” broadly to describe leaders who restrict freedoms, centralize power, or suppress dissent.

Is This Term Accurate For These Seven Presidents?

Some movements may share tendencies (strongman leadership, violent suppression of opposition), but most modern governments and parties do not meet the full definition of fascism. Political scientists (e.g., Robert Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism) caution that fascism is not just “any authoritarianism,” but a very specific 20th-century phenomenon tied to war mobilization and ultranationalism.

Sources:

  1. Benito Mussolini, The Doctrine of Fascism (1932).
  2. Robert O. Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism (Vintage, 2005).
  3. Stanley G. Payne, A History of Fascism, 1914–1945 (Routledge, 1995).

“Gestapo”

The Definition: The Gestapo (short for Geheime Staatspolizei, “Secret State Police”) was Nazi Germany’s official secret police force.

The Historical Background: Founded in 1933 by Hermann Göring in Prussia and later controlled by Heinrich Himmler and the SS. Tasked with suppressing opposition, the Gestapo operated without judicial oversight, using surveillance, intimidation, torture, and extrajudicial killings. They targeted Communists, Jews, clergy, intellectuals, and anyone deemed a threat to Nazi ideology. The Gestapo became notorious as one of the most feared tools of Nazi terror, playing a key role in the Holocaust and the suppression of resistance movements.

Historical meaning: Nazi Germany’s secret state police (1933–1945), operating outside judicial oversight, notorious for surveillance, torture, and terror.

The Modern usage: Often used to describe aggressive law enforcement, secret police, or government surveillance agencies. Sometimes applied metaphorically to police tactics seen as brutal or repressive.

Is The Term “Gestapo” Accurate For These Seven Presidents?

The Gestapo had unique powers (arbitrary arrests, concentration camps, systematic torture).

Modern police, even when abusive, generally operate under more legal and institutional constraints. Equating contemporary law enforcement with the Gestapo is usually hyperbolic and diminishes the historical horror of Nazi policing.

Sources:

  1. Heinz Höhne, The Order of the Death’s Head: The Story of Hitler’s SS (Penguin, 2000).
  2. Carsten Dams and Michael Stolle, The Gestapo: Power and Terror in the Third Reich (Oxford University Press, 2014).
  3. USHMM: Gestapo.

“Racist”

Definition: A racist is someone who believes that races have distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities—especially to assert the superiority of one race over others—and acts or structures society accordingly.

The Historical Background: The concept of race developed in the early modern period, especially during European colonialism (16th–19th centuries). Pseudo-scientific racism emerged in the 18th–19th centuries, with figures like Arthur de Gobineau (Essay on the Inequality of Human Races, 1853–55) and later eugenics movements claiming biological superiority of some groups. In the 20th century, Nazi Germany institutionalized racism in its ideology of Aryan supremacy, leading to systemic persecution and genocide. Modern definitions of racism also encompass structural and institutional discrimination, not just individual prejudice.

Historical meaning: Originally linked to belief in racial hierarchy and policies that codified racial superiority (colonialism, segregation, apartheid, Nazism).

The Modern usage: Commonly used to describe individuals, policies, or statements perceived as prejudiced or discriminatory based on race. Expanded to include systemic racism (institutional structures producing racial inequality, even without overt intent).

Is The Term “Racist” Accurate For These Seven Presidents?

Unlike the other terms, racism remains a living reality and is still correctly applied when describing actions by any person or system that disadvantage people based on race. However, the term is also sometimes used loosely, applied to disagreements or insensitive remarks that may not rise to the historical weight of systemic racism.

Sources:

  1. George M. Fredrickson, Racism: A Short History (Princeton University Press, 2002).
  2. Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America (Nation Books, 2016).
  3. UNESCO Statement on Race (1950), which rejected the scientific validity of race-based superiority theories.

When people today use the terms: “Nazi, Fascist, Gestapo, or Racist,” these are most often misunderstood for their true historical meaning. People used these terms for anyone they don’t like, rather than an intellectual response to true behavior that warrants these names.

Modern Usages of These Terms Are Inaccurate and Hyperbolic (exaggeration)

The modern usage of terms like “Nazi,” “Fascist,” “Gestapo,” and “Racist” is often very different from their original historical meaning. The following facts outline the distinctions, historical accuracy, and the potential misuse of these terms in current political and social discourse.

Case Studies in Historical vs. Modern Usage of these Terms

Nazi Analogies: Historical Case

  • Nazi Germany (1933–1945):
  • Hitler’s party sought total state control, racial purity, and expansionist war.
  • Policies: Holocaust, euthanasia programs, suppression of dissent, and aggressive propaganda.

Modern Comparisons:

  • Neo-Nazi groups (e.g., skinhead gangs in Europe, U.S. groups like the National Socialist Movement).
  • These explicitly embrace Nazi ideology, symbols, and Holocaust denial → accurate use of “Nazi.”
  • Critics calling opponents “Nazis” (e.g., in U.S. politics, both left and right accuse the other side).
  • Unless the group adopts actual Nazi ideology, the term is misapplied and becomes political rhetoric.

The term “Nazi” is accurate for self-identified neo-Nazi groups. Using it to describe ordinary authoritarian or unpopular politicians is historically false.

Source: Richard J. Evans, The Third Reich in History and Memory (Oxford University Press, 2015).

Fascism in Context

Historical Case

  • Mussolini’s Italy (1922–1943):
  • Fascism emphasized one-party rule, corporatism (state-business collaboration), glorification of war, and charismatic leadership.
  • Mussolini himself said: “Everything in the State, nothing outside the State, nothing against the State.”

Modern Comparisons

Franco’s Spain (1939–1975):

  • Shared authoritarian elements but more Catholic-traditionalist than Mussolini’s corporatism. Often called “fascist,” but technically closer to authoritarian conservatism.
  • Pinochet’s Chile (1973–1990):
  • Repressive military rule, torture, suppression of opposition.
  • Not fascist in the classical sense (lacked mass mobilization and ultranationalist ideology), but critics often use the term.

The term “Fascist” works historically for Mussolini’s Italy and, to some extent, Hitler’s Germany. Most modern strongman regimes (Chile, North Korea, Russia) share features but do not fully fit the scholarly definition of fascism.

Source: Robert O. Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism (Vintage, 2005).

Gestapo Comparisons

Historical Case

  • Gestapo (1933–1945):
  • Operated with no judicial oversight.
  • Arbitrary arrests, torture, executions, surveillance of ordinary citizens, and enforcement of ideological purity.
  • Integral to the Holocaust and suppression of German resistance.

Modern Comparisons

  • Stasi (East Germany, 1950–1990):
  • Extensive surveillance network, millions of informants, and imprisonment of dissidents.
  • Very similar in function to the Gestapo → legitimate comparison.
  • Modern police forces in democracies:
  • Even when guilty of brutality or overreach, they operate under laws, courts, and public scrutiny.
  • Equating them to the Gestapo is hyperbolic and historically misleading.

The term “Gestapo” can be fairly applied to secret police in totalitarian states (Stasi, Soviet NKVD, Mao’s Cultural Revolution police). In liberal democracies, even harsh policing does not equate to Gestapo terror.

Source: Carsten Dams & Michael Stolle, The Gestapo: Power and Terror in the Third Reich (Oxford University Press, 2014).

Racism Past and Present

Historical Cases

  • Jim Crow America (1877–1960s):
  • Systemic segregation, disenfranchisement, lynching, and codified racial hierarchy.
  • Apartheid South Africa (1948–1994):
  • Laws restricting Black South Africans from political rights, land ownership, and free movement.

Modern Comparisons

  • Neo-Nazi and white supremacist movements:
  • Continuation of race-based superiority → accurate use of “racist.”
  • Institutional racism debates in democracies (e.g., U.S. criminal justice system, education gaps):
  • More complex. Scholars like George Fredrickson (Racism: A Short History) argue systemic racism persists in structures even without explicit laws.

The term “Racist” is historically accurate for segregation, apartheid, Nazi racial ideology. Modern use can be correct, but requires evidence of systemic discrimination, not just political disagreement.

Source: George M. Fredrickson, Racism: A Short History (Princeton, 2002).

A Correct Usage of these Terms:

  • Nazi → accurate for neo-Nazis; misused in partisan insults.
  • Fascist → valid for Mussolini & Hitler; over-applied to general authoritarianism.
  • Gestapo → legitimate for secret police in totalitarian states; misused for normal police criticism.
  • Racist → continues to be relevant, but must be grounded in evidence of prejudice or systemic inequality.

Many independent case studies demonstrate that while some analogies of these five widely used terms are legitimate in very specific contexts, modern political rhetoric often distorts historical precision, which risks trivializing the original atrocities.

Defining these terms in their specific usage by people in America, concerning the Republican Party, the Republican Government, and specifically, President Donald Trump

The terms Nazi, Fascist, Gestapo, and Racist have been frequently invoked in American political rhetoric, especially against Republicans, the Republican Party, and specifically President Donald J. Trump. In this section of the essay I will examine the original meaning of these terms. How critics of the Republican Party or Trump have used them. How scholars and historians evaluate whether such usage is accurate or exaggerated. I will provide sources and citations that validate these conclusions

“Nazi”

Original Meaning: A member of Hitler’s National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP), responsible for totalitarian rule, racial purity ideology, and genocide (1933–1945).

Usage in U.S. Political Discourse: Critics of Trump have called him or his supporters “Nazis” to describe perceived authoritarian tendencies, white nationalist sympathies, or use of propaganda.

An Example: Comparisons drawn between Trump rallies and Nazi rallies by media commentators (e.g., Madeleine Albright, Fascism: A Warning, 2018).

Phrases like “American Nazis” are also applied to far-right extremist groups that supported Trump (e.g., Charlottesville marchers in 2017).

Are These Usages Accurate:

Scholars stress that Trump and the Republican Party do not fit the historical definition of “Nazi.” Richard J. Evans (historian of the Third Reich) has criticized “casual Hitler analogies,” noting they distort history and inflame debate. The only accurate use of “Nazi” in U.S. politics is when referring to self-identified neo-Nazi groups, some of whom expressed support for Trump.

Sources:

  • Richard J. Evans, The Third Reich in History and Memory (Oxford University Press, 2015).
  • Madeleine Albright, Fascism: A Warning (HarperCollins, 2018).
  • USHMM: Nazi Party.

“Fascist”

Original Meaning: Mussolini’s political movement (1920s–1940s), marked by dictatorship, suppression of opposition, ultranationalism, and corporatism.

Usage in U.S. Political Discourse:

  • Trump has often been labeled a “fascist” by critics who point to:
  • His strongman leadership style.
  • “America First” nationalism.
  • Efforts to undermine elections (e.g., January 6, 2021).
  • Attacks on the press as “enemies of the people.”
  • Books like Jason Stanley’s How Fascism Works (2018) apply the term to Trump-era politics.

Accuracy:

Political scientists like Robert Paxton argue that Trump exhibits fascist-like tendencies (charismatic leader, populist nationalism, delegitimizing opponents). However, most historians stop short of calling him a true fascist, since Trump did not abolish elections, establish a one-party state, or mobilize society for war.

“Authoritarian populist” is considered a more accurate label.

Sources:

  • Robert O. Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism (Vintage, 2005).
  • Jason Stanley, How Fascism Works (Random House, 2018).
  • Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present (W.W. Norton, 2020).

“Gestapo”

Original Meaning: Hitler’s secret state police (Geheime Staatspolizei), known for surveillance, torture, extrajudicial killings, and terror.

Usage in U.S. Political Discourse:

Critics have sometimes called U.S. law enforcement agencies (e.g., ICE during Trump’s presidency) “Gestapo,” particularly regarding immigration raids and family separations.

Trump critics also used “Gestapo tactics” to describe federal agents deployed to U.S. cities during 2020 protests (Portland, Oregon).

Accuracy: These analogies are rhetorical exaggerations.

  • While U.S. agencies have been accused of abuses, they operate under laws, courts, and oversight — unlike the Gestapo.
  • Historians argue that comparing ICE or federal policing to the Gestapo diminishes the historical horror of Nazi Germany’s police state.

Sources:

  • Carsten Dams & Michael Stolle, The Gestapo: Power and Terror in the Third Reich (Oxford University Press, 2014).
  • New York Times (July 22, 2020): “Federal Agents Unleash Militarized Crackdown on Portland.”

“Racist”

Original Meaning: Belief in racial superiority/inferiority and policies that enforce racial hierarchy (e.g., slavery, Jim Crow, apartheid, Nazi race laws).

Usage in U.S. Political Discourse:

Trump and Republicans have often been accused of racism, especially in regard to:

  • Trump’s rhetoric on immigration (“Mexican rapists” speech, 2015).
  • “Muslim Ban” executive order (2017).
  • Charlottesville 2017 (“very fine people on both sides” comment).
  • Opposition to Critical Race Theory in schools.
  • Republican critics label policies restricting voting access as “racist voter suppression.”

Accuracy:

  • Scholars differentiate between:
  • Racially charged rhetoric (which Trump undeniably used).
  • Systemic racism in laws and policies (debated among experts).

Unlike “Nazi” or “Gestapo,” the term “racist” is still accurately applicable today, though critics and supporters disagree sharply on whether Trump personally or the Republican Party as a whole is racist, or whether accusations are politically motivated.

Sources:

  • George M. Fredrickson, Racism: A Short History (Princeton, 2002).
  • Ibram X. Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist (One World, 2019).
  • Pew Research Center (2020): Public Opinion on Race and Trump.

The following are examples with links of critics (journalists, public figures, commentators) who have used terms like Nazi, fascist, Gestapo, racist, or variants thereof to describe Donald Trump, his party, or his voters — along with context and notes on how those claims are used. (I emphasize that I’m compiling what critics actually said, not necessarily endorsing that all such characterizations are historically accurate.)

John Kelly — “fascist” / “Hitler did some good things”

Reuters — “Trump meets definition of a fascist, his former chief of staff says”
Link: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-prefers-dictator-approach-former-chief-staff-says-2024-10-23/

“Kelly said … Trump falls into the general definition of fascist … ‘He certainly prefers the dictator approach to government’ … he quoted Trump as having told him German Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler ‘did some good things.’”

PBS NewsHour — “What John Kelly said about Trump’s praise of Hitler and fascist tendencies”
Link: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-john-kelly-said-about-trumps-praise-of-hitler-and-fascist-tendencies

PBS frames Kelly’s remarks as signaling concerns that Trump would “rule like a fascist” if reelected.

ABC News — “John Kelly comes out swinging against Trump, says he fits ‘fascist’ definition”
Link: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/john-kelly-swinging-trump/story?id=115061457 
The ABC piece quotes Kelly describing how Trump’s statements align with classic features of fascism (authoritarianism, suppression of opposition, ultranationalism).

Mark Milley — “a fascist to the core”

Axios — “Trump’s top general calls former president ‘a fascist’ and ‘dangerous’ threat”

Link: https://www.axios.com/2024/10/11/mark-milley-trump-fascist-bob-woodward-book
Milley is quoted (via Bob Woodward’s forthcoming book) saying, “He is a total fascist … a fascist to the core.”

The article frames it as a strongly worded critique from a high-ranking former military official.

Critics’ use of “Gestapo” / Nazi police analogy

PBS NewsHour — “With ‘Gestapo’ comment, Trump adds to numerous past Nazi Germany references”

Link: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/with-gestapo-comment-trump-adds-to-numerous-past-nazi-germany-references

This piece cites Trump’s own “Gestapo” remark and the subsequent backlash, placing the usage in a pattern of Nazi-era references.

Axios — “White House hits back at Trump ‘Gestapo’ comments”

Link: https://www.axios.com/2024/05/06/trump-gestapo-remarks-white-house-fascists-claim 

The story quotes Trump: “These people are running a Gestapo administration …” and covers how the White House responded to criticisms of using Nazi references.

Minnesota Star Tribune — Gov. Tim Walz compares ICE agents to “Donald Trump’s modern-day Gestapo”

Link: https://www.startribune.com/gov-tim-walz-rebuked-by-trump-administration-for-comparing-immigration-agents-to-nazi-gestapo/601357697

Walz made this analogy publicly in a commencement address:

“Donald Trump’s modern-day Gestapo is scooping folks up off the streets … unmarked vans … shipping people off to foreign torture dungeons.”

The article notes that the Trump administration criticized him for the comparison.

Critics calling Trump or his rhetoric “racist”

Elizabeth Neumann (former Trump DHS official turned critic) — publicly labeled Trump’s language and actions “racist”

Wikipedia summary: Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Neumann

In 2020, she joined an ad for “Republican Voters Against Trump” in which she said Trump’s language and actions were “racist.”

Notes on how critics use these terms

These critics often use fascist, Gestapo, or racist as emphatic or rhetorical labels to highlight perceived authoritarian, oppressive, or discriminatory qualities in Trump’s rhetoric or policies.

The strength of these analogies often hinges not just on the language used, but on the structural behavior of power — e.g. attempts to undermine institutions, concentrate authority, or target marginalized groups — which is where historical comparisons are most contested.

Because “Nazi” is a specifically loaded historical label, critics more often use fascist or Gestapo rather than calling Trump a “Nazi,” unless they link to extremist ideology or compare to neo-Nazis.

Are These Terms Rightly Applied To President Donald Trump?

Based on the definitions and usages that modern persons are currently using to define Trump and the Republican Party, which historical American Presidents and other Republican leaders would also be defined as “Nazi, Fascist, Gestapo, and Racists?”

Modern Usage Against Trump / GOP

Nazi: Critics use this to describe Trump’s or his supporters’ rhetoric when it echoes dehumanization (“vermin,” “poisoning the blood”), or when extremist groups (neo-Nazis, white supremacists) express support for him.

Fascist: Used for Trump’s authoritarian populism, undermining of elections, “America First” nationalism, and strongman style.

Gestapo: Used rhetorically for Trump-era immigration enforcement (ICE raids, DHS actions, federal agents in protests).

Racist: Applied broadly to Trump’s statements (“Mexican rapists,” “Muslim ban”), policies (immigration, voting rights), and his supporters (Hillary Clinton’s “basket of deplorables”).

These terms are being used today less historically and more polemically: to mean authoritarian, anti-democratic, repressive, or racially discriminatory.

Historical Applications to U.S. Presidents / Republican Leaders

“Nazi”

No American president or Republican leader has ever met the true historical definition of Nazi (a genocidal totalitarian party bent on racial purity).

However, 20th-century demagogues and segregationists sometimes used language of racial superiority or exclusion that modern critics might equate with “Nazi-like.”

Sen. Theodore Bilbo (D-MS, 1930s–40s) — though not Republican, he openly praised Hitler’s racial ideas and promoted white supremacy.

Charles Lindbergh (America First Committee) — not a president, but a prominent figure admired by some Republicans, used rhetoric about “racial strength” that critics compared to Nazi ideology.

“Fascist”

Used historically against leaders who expanded executive power or employed nationalist rhetoric:

Andrew Jackson (Democrat, 1829–1837): Called a “fascist” retroactively by some critics because of his authoritarian style, Indian Removal Act, and use of force against dissent (though the term did not exist yet).

Richard Nixon (Republican, 1969–1974): During Watergate and his use of FBI/CIA/IRS against enemies, critics on the left frequently labeled him “fascist.”

Ronald Reagan (Republican, 1981–1989): Protesters often called him “fascist” for his anti-communist foreign policy, aggressive policing, and rhetoric against welfare programs.

“Gestapo”

Used rhetorically for U.S. police or security agencies accused of repression:

J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI (under multiple presidents, both parties, 1935–1972): Frequently described by critics as “Gestapo-like” for surveillance of civil rights leaders, MLK, antiwar activists.

Nixon Administration: Protesters in the 1970s called Nixon’s federal agents and “plumbers” a “Gestapo” for breaking into Democratic offices and spying.

George W. Bush (Republican, 2001–2009): Post-9/11 policies (Patriot Act, Guantanamo detentions, extraordinary rendition) led critics to call his administration “Gestapo tactics.”

“Racist”

This label has been applied most consistently across American history.

Andrew Johnson (Democrat, 1865–1869): Openly racist, opposed Black civil rights and Reconstruction.

Woodrow Wilson (Democrat, 1913–1921): Re-segregated the federal workforce and praised Birth of a Nation.

Republican Presidents:

Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929): Signed the Immigration Act of 1924, heavily restricting immigrants from non-Northern European countries, widely viewed as racist.

Herbert Hoover (1929–1933): Endorsed “Mexican Repatriation” campaigns that deported ~1 million people of Mexican descent, many U.S. citizens.

Richard Nixon (1969–1974): “Southern Strategy” (appealing to white voters alienated by civil rights) and racist remarks on tapes.

Ronald Reagan (1981–1989): Criticized for “welfare queen” rhetoric, seen as racially coded.

Scholarly Cautions

Over-extension: Historians warn that throwing around “Nazi” or “fascist” in American contexts is usually hyperbolic and diminishes the unique horrors of Hitler and Mussolini.

Better descriptors: Terms like “authoritarian,” “white supremacist,” “illiberal,” or “racist” are more historically accurate for U.S. figures.

Continuum, not equivalence: American presidents may share traits (surveillance, repression, racial discrimination), but none instituted totalitarian one-party states or genocide.

If the modern rhetorical usage of these terms (as applied to Trump and Republicans) were applied retroactively:

  •  “Nazi” → would be attached to segregationists and racial nationalists (Theodore Bilbo, Lindbergh), but not accurately to presidents.
  • “Fascist” → would have been used against Andrew Jackson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush by critics of their strongman or authoritarian tendencies.
  • “Gestapo” → would be applied to Hoover’s FBI, Nixon’s dirty tricks team, and Bush’s post-9/11 security state.
  • “Racist” → applies to a wide range of U.S. presidents (both parties), but in the Republican Party particularly Coolidge (Immigration Act of 1924), Hoover (Mexican repatriation), Nixon (Southern Strategy), and Reagan (racially coded rhetoric).

Sources and Citations

Consolidated Citations (Chicago/Turabian, Notes & Bibliography Style)

  1. John Kelly quoted in PBS NewsHour, “Trump said Hitler ‘did some good things’ and wanted generals like the Nazis, former chief of staff Kelly claims,” October 23, 2024, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-said-hitler-did-some-good-things-and-wanted-generals-like-the-nazis-former-chief-of-staff-kelly-claims.
  2. Jonathan Swan, Axios, “John Kelly tells NYT Trump said: ‘Hitler did some good things,’” October 23, 2024, https://www.axios.com/2024/10/23/john-kelly-trump-hitler.
  3. The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, “Trump: ‘I Need the Kind of Generals That Hitler Had,’” October 23, 2024, https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/10/trump-military-generals-hitler/680327/.
  4. Washington Post, Isaac Arnsdorf, “Trump calls political enemies ‘vermin,’ echoing dictators,” November 12, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/12/trump-rally-vermin-political-opponents/.
  5. C-SPAN, “Trump promises to ‘root out’ the radical left and equates political opponents to vermin,” November 11, 2023, https://www.c-span.org/clip/public-affairs-event/user-clip-trump-promises-to-root-out-the-radical-left-and-equates-political-opponents-to-vermin/5093013.
  6. Sara Dorn, Forbes, “Trump Compares Political Foes To ‘Vermin’ On Veterans Day — Echoing Nazi Propaganda,” November 12, 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/11/12/trump-compares-political-foes-to-vermin-on-veterans-day-echoing-nazi-propaganda/.
  7. Associated Press, “Trump says Biden is running a ‘Gestapo’ administration,” May 5, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/trump-gestapo-biden-nazi-germany-campaign-rhetoric-531691ce92cafc18c810c75740802883.
  8. Reuters, “Trump accuses Biden of running ‘Gestapo administration,’” May 5, 2024, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-accuses-biden-running-gestapo-administration-2024-05-05/.
  9. PBS NewsHour, “With ‘Gestapo’ comment, Trump adds to numerous past Nazi Germany references,” May 6, 2024, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/with-gestapo-comment-trump-adds-to-numerous-past-nazi-germany-references.
  10. Reuters, “Trump’s ‘bloodbath’ and other rhetoric inflame his 2024 campaign trail,” March 22, 2024, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/bloodbath-vermin-animals-trumps-rhetoric-trail-2024-03-22/.
  11. WUNC, “Why Trump’s authoritarian language about ‘vermin’ matters,” November 17, 2023, https://www.wunc.org/2023-11-17/why-trumps-authoritarian-language-about-vermin-matters.
  12. Joseph R. Biden, remarks calling MAGA Republicans “semi-fascist,” PBS NewsHour, August 25, 2022, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-biden-calls-for-democrats-to-vote-in-midterm-elections-slams-semi-fascism-in-gop.
  13. Alex Thompson, Axios, “Biden: MAGA Republicans represent ‘semi-fascism,’” August 26, 2022, https://www.axios.com/2022/08/26/biden-maga-republicans-semi-fascism-maryland-rally.
  14. Al Jazeera, “Biden asks Democrats to defeat ‘semi-fascism’ in midterm election,” August 26, 2022, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/26/biden-asks-democrats-to-defeat-semi-fascism-in-midterm-election.
  15. Associated Press, “Harris says Trump is a fascist,” October 2024, https://apnews.com/article/fascism-meaning-harris-trump-kelly-fda56694feb1825dcf6477c8081a563d.
  16. Associated Press, “Kamala Harris: Trump fits the definition of a fascist,” October 2024, https://apnews.com/article/trump-john-kelly-nazis-hitler-87d672e1ec1a6645808050fc60f6b8bc.
  17. CNN, “Kamala Harris says Trump is a fascist,” YouTube video, October 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO0fglSeaYc.
  18. Reuters, “Trump prefers dictator approach, says John Kelly,” October 23, 2024, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-prefers-dictator-approach-former-chief-staff-says-2024-10-23/.
  19. Washington Post, Dan Lamothe, “Milley described Trump as a ‘fascist to the core,’” October 12, 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/10/12/mark-milley-donald-trump-fascist/.
  20. Axios, Jonathan Swan, “Mark Milley: Trump is a fascist,” October 11, 2024, https://www.axios.com/2024/10/11/mark-milley-trump-fascist-bob-woodward-book.
  21. ABC News, “What is fascism? And why Trump critics keep using the word,” October 2024, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/fascism-term-hurled-donald-trump/story?id=115101505.
  22. New Yorker, Robin Wright, “Madeleine Albright Warns of a New Fascism and Trump,” April 2018, https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/madeleine-albright-warns-of-a-new-fascism-and-trump.
  23. Vox, Sean Illing, “Madeleine Albright on why fascism is still a threat,” February 14, 2019, https://www.vox.com/world/2019/2/14/18221913/fascism-warning-madeleine-albright-book-trump.
  24. Vox, Sean Illing, “American fascism and Donald Trump, explained by Jason Stanley,” January 29, 2021, https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2021/1/29/22250294/trump-american-fascism-jason-stanley.
  25. Jason Stanley, “Donald Trump is moving us towards fascism,” The Guardian, October 24, 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/24/donald-trump-fascism-elections.
  26. Washington Post, “Rep. Jim Clyburn compares climate during Trump presidency to Hitler’s Germany,” March 20, 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/rep-clyburn-compares-climate-during-trump-presidency-to-hitlers-germany/2019/03/20/8da413ce-4b56-11e9-9663-00ac73f49662_story.html.
  27. Axios, “Clyburn: Trump is a racist, could go the way of Germany in the 1930s,” March 15, 2020, https://www.axios.com/2020/03/15/clyburn-trump-racist-white-supremacist-nazis.
  28. Axios, “Beto O’Rourke: Trump rhetoric ‘perhaps inspired’ by Goebbels,” October 21, 2019, https://www.axios.com/2019/10/21/orourke-goebbels-perhaps-inspired-trump-rhethoric.
  29. Washington Post, “Ocasio-Cortez presses case that U.S. is running concentration camps at border,” June 18, 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/ocasio-cortez-presses-case-that-us-is-running-concentration-camps-at-border-amid-republican-outcry/2019/06/18/09ee7eb6-91d8-11e9-aadb-74e6b2b46f6a_story.html.
  30. FOX9, “Gov. Walz compares ICE to Gestapo,” June 2020, https://www.fox9.com/news/gov-walz-compares-ice-gestapo-trump-admin-calls-remarks-dangerous.
  31. Star Tribune, “Walz rebuked for Gestapo comparison,” June 2020, https://www.startribune.com/gov-tim-walz-rebuked-by-trump-administration-for-comparing-immigration-agents-to-nazi-gestapo/601357697.
  32. U.S. Congress, House Resolution 489 (116th Congress), “Condemning President Trump’s racist comments,” July 16, 2019, https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/489.
  33. PBS NewsHour, “Pelosi urges Republicans to condemn Trump’s racist tweets,” July 16, 2019, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-pelosi-urges-republicans-to-condemn-trumps-racist-tweets.
  34. Bernie Sanders, Twitter post, July 25, 2019, https://twitter.com/berniesanders/status/1154564240289570816.
  35. WMUR, “Sanders blasts Trump for ‘overtly racist’ comments,” July 2019, https://www.wmur.com/article/sanders-blasts-overtly-racist-trump-for-comments-on-congresswomen/28440748.
  36. Allan Smith, Business Insider, “Bernie Sanders calls Trump a racist, sexist, xenophobe, and a fraud,” February 2019, https://www.businessinsider.com/bernie-sanders-responds-trumps-crazy-nickname-2019-2.
  37. ABC7NY, “Sanders calls Trump racist, sexist, homophobe, religious bigot,” May 2019, https://abc7ny.com/post/sanders-calls-trump-racist-sexist-homophobe-religious-bigot/5326904/.
  38. PBS Amanpour & Co., “Former Trump DHS official: His policies are racist,” August 2020, https://www.pbs.org/wnet/amanpour-and-company/video/former-trump-dhs-official-his-policies-are-racist/.
  39. Andrew Solender, Forbes, “Trump’s racist actions gave permission to white supremacists, ex-DHS official says,” August 26, 2020, https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2020/08/26/trumps-racist-actions-gave-permission-to-white-supremacists-an-ex-dhs-official-now-says/.
  40. Guardian, Martin Pengelly, “Trump is a racist, says Beto O’Rourke after El Paso shooting,” August 4, 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/04/trump-is-a-racist-beto-orourke-links-presidents-rhetoric-to-el-paso-shooting.
  41. Washington Post, “Beto O’Rourke shows raw anger as his hometown mourns,” August 5, 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/i-just-dont-have-words-beto-orourke-shows-raw-anger-as-his-hometown-mourns/2019/08/05/f0d391ce-b783-11e9-b3b4-2bb69e8c4e39_story.html.
  42. Hillary Clinton, “Basket of Deplorables” speech transcript, Time, September 2016, https://time.com/4486502/hillary-clinton-basket-of-deplorables-transcript/.
  43. The Atlantic, “Clinton’s ‘Basket of Deplorables’ Gaffe,” September 2016, https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/09/gaffe-track-hillary-clintons-basket-of-deplorables/623207/.

The following are critics (politicians, commentators, insiders) who used the labels Nazi/fascist/Gestapo/racist (or close analogies) about Donald Trump, Republicans, or Trump voters, with a short context for each.

Fascist (and close analogies)

Nazi-era language / Nazi analogies (by critics)

“Gestapo” analogies (by critics)

“Racist” (about Trump / GOP / policies / voters)

About Trump voters (as opposed to just Trump)

‹
›

Categories: Robert Clifton Robinson

1 reply

  1. Anthony Mays's avatar
    Anthony Mays
    October 8, 2025 • 4:24 pm

    Satan can call me whatever he wishes to call me as long as the Messiah calls me good and faithful servant.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

Please see, "Guidelines For Debate," at the right-side menu. Post your comment or argument here: