Why Calling Donald Trump a Fascist Is Not the Winning Hand Democrats Hope It Is

During last night’s CNN Town Hall, Kamala Harris — as the New York Times phrased it — “entered new rhetorical territory” by calling Donald Trump a “fascist.” She did it twice. Biden has also labeled Trump a fascist, and there’s substantial evidence — most recently from Generals John Kelly and Mark Milley — suggesting that if Trump is re-elected, he’ll govern like a dictator.

The challenge for the Harris/Walz campaign is that calling Trump a fascist may not be the winning argument they hope it is. Why? Because half the country, including the majority of men, don’t find it disqualifying. In fact, they see it as a feature.

Trump’s autocratic tendencies aren’t news. Honestly, we haven’t learned anything new about him in years — at least not anything that will change the game. Yes, there’s a new allegation from a former model in Jeffrey Epstein’s circle that Trump groped her, but no one seems to care. Trump isn’t hiding his dictatorial fervor. When asked to clarify comments about the “enemy within” or using the military against his political opponents, he doesn’t soften or walk back. He doubles down.

And it’s not hurting him in the polls. His supporters love it. Tucker Carlson even said last night — in his typical gross fashion — that America needs a dictator to come in, spank the kids, and restore order.

Post by @yasharali

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I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why half of America, especially men, might want a dictator for president. The answer, unfortunately, is pretty simple: They believe Trump is on their side. They think he’ll impose their rules and protect them from immigrants, feminists, critical race theory, the Me Too movement, trans athletes, public health regulations, Jews, Muslims, and Hollywood.

White male Americans feel their power structures crumbling — they think their masculinity is under siege — and they want a protector. For them, a dictator is perfect: someone who will reestablish the hierarchy and put them back on top. The system has always been designed for them, and they want to keep it that way. They want Donald Trump to come in and do for America what Elon Musk has done for Twitter: Make it a safe space for them; who gives a shit about everyone else? If they don’t like it, they can leave! And the thing is, most of those who no longer feel comfortable on Twitter have left. Leaving America is not an option for most people, including millions of people who will be forced to leave America against their will.

Kamala Harris, meanwhile, is uniquely threatening because she’s a Black woman with immigrant parents, no children, and a Jewish husband. If she gains power, who will protect these white men? Harris knows her identity feels threatening to them, which is why she avoids talking about the historic nature of her candidacy. She’s trying to avoid the fate of Hillary Clinton, whose “I’m with her” message made fragile men feel excluded.

So what can Harris do?

Appealing to these men, coddling them, and reassuring them that women and people of color aren’t out to get them seems exhausting. With only 12 days until the election, it’s too late for that, anyway. There may be a handful thinking, “I like a president who protects my values, but not if he’s going to be a fascist about it.” But that’s probably a tiny slice of the electorate.

In the end, we have to hope there are enough real men —- men who don’t need a goddamn dictator to fight their battles, who are secure in themselves, and who aren’t threatened by imaginary boogeymen —- to give Harris the edge. It may come down to a few thousand Boomers who aren’t just interested in self-preservation but care about protecting their grandchildren and future generations.

Not to get all existential, but this election is about the soul of a nation grappling with its future. Do we want to live in a country where one man aims not just to protect conservative interests, all laid out in Project 2025, but force them upon us? Or do we want to build a future where strength is defined by unity, empathy, and the courage to embrace progress — even when it challenges old power structures? I know what we want, but are there enough of us to save the country from itself?