History likes to repeat itself. We can document events and atrocities all we want, but this is a fact that humans have fallen prey to time and time again, and 2025 is no different. I’m not writing today to say that people will react exactly the same in all situations, but there are commonalities that are prominent. Our memories are short, our egos are fragile, and if we don’t learn to practice empathy and kindness in daily life, its incredibly easy to see a group of people as “the other” and treat them with disdain.
Nazism was a far-right ideology rooted in fascism. Nazi Germany is not the first fascist group to exist, but perhaps the most referenced and well known. It may seem extreme to compare the current political climate to Nazi Germany, because it is true that they are not the same. Fascism will look different depending on the government it forms out of, but its defining attributes are always there. Fascism began in Italy during World War 1, and has snuck its way into governments around the world at various points since.
In 1933 the Nazi party rose to power. Today, People like to think of Nazis as manifestations of pure evil. While their beliefs did lead them to commit evil acts, the Nazis were a political party with regular people and an actual belief system. Its core beliefs centered around nationalism. A deep-rooted belief that their country and their people were superior. Something that is key in other fascist governments as well, and currently manifesting in my own country. This can be illustrated with the “America First” rhetoric that’s being resurfaced. “America first” may seem fine and dandy. I don’t want my country dragged into petty conflicts we have nothing to do with. But I don’t require a great understanding of geo-politics to recognize that there are times when we must stand up for what is right in an unjust world. There are times when we must be the leaders that America has positioned ourselves to be, and times when we must help our friends that are being mistreated. “America first” as a black and white slogan is nationalistic.
Fascist governments do not like democracy, and are in support of dictatorship. This person is generally seen as a strong leader with passionate supporters. In Italy this authoritarian figure-head was Mussolini, In Germany it was Hitler, and now we can watch in real-time as Trump attempts to dismantle democracy in favor of his own dictatorship by ignoring the laws and rulings of the Supreme Court for his own agenda. He refused to relinquish power on January 6th when he lost the election, and called on Americans to storm the capitol. He even threatened his own running mate the vice president. Even since then he refuses to concede that he lost that election. This term he has made comments about wanting to be a dictator on day one. He has also said multiple times that he plans to run a third term. An outright break of the constitutional law.
The first president of the United States stepped down after two terms as a way to prevent corruption. Power leads to entitlement, selfishness, and greed. George Washington understood that. Like them or not, most presidents following him respected the two term tradition in an effort to uphold democracy and prevent the corruption that can darken the soul of a leader who is granted such vast power. In 1951 the 22nd amendment was officially ratified, limiting the number of terms that can be served by a president. Trump’s continuous mention of his plans to stay the President should worry all of us.
Fascist governments also commonly have a large focus on expansion. Mussolini’s Expansion plans involved the Mediterranean, Africa, and establishing a “New Roman Empire.” Hitler sought to expand through Europe. Donald Trump has expressed desire for expansion with his comments about making Canada a state, taking Greenland, and the Gaza Strip.
Anti-semitism, homophobia, and racism play a part in fascism, and this is also seen within the MAGA movement. However today it’s being disguised as fighting anti-semitism while acting Anti-palestinian. This administration has already unlawfully deported and detained legal green card holders for comments that they considered to be in support of Palestine, or critical of Israel for how they have conducted themselves in the current conflict. Not only did Hitler deport his enemies, but he sent them to foreign detention centers that later became death camps. Pay attention and you will see that Donald Trump is already illegally deporting people who oppose him to foreign detention centers. In a meeting with the president of El Salvador he is quoted “The homegrown are next, the homegrowns. You’ve got to build about five more places.” Please note that another key element of fascism is suppression of opposition.
This prison in El Salvador currently holds at least fifty migrants that entered our country LEGALLY, and has some of the worst conditions imaginable. It was designed to house the most dangerous criminals, and conditions are strict and downright inhumane. Reports have shown that they often contain over 100 people to a cell, with one toilet, and no privacy. Prisoners are packed like sardines, and only allowed out of the cell for one hour a day. In the cell, Prisoners often take turns standing and lying down due to overcrowding. They are given very little food and water, and are not given medical attention when they are sick. Disease is rampant. They are denied due process, and don’t have access to communication with loved ones. Fluorescent lights are on at all hours, with no clocks, or indication as to the time of day. There have been several reports of torture.
Not only are these conditions horrific to inflict on legal immigrants, but they are inhumane for any person, including criminals. I fear that these maximum security prisons are the concentration camps of today. Like the MAGA movement, the Germans in the Nazi Party had strong immigration reform as a large part of their party platform.
History is repeating itself, and you don’t have to be an officer at a concentration camp to be in support of the Fascist Party of today.
If you struggle to see the parallels, or if you don’t see empathy as an important value to have, like Trump’s head of DOGE, Elon Musk, who was quoted “The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy.” then remember this poem written by a former Nazi:
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.”
-Courtney