History Does Not Repeat Itself, But It Often Rhymes: Comparing the Messaging of Adolf Hitler and Donald Trump

Document Type

Article

Authors

Elaina Varney, University of Minnesota - MorrisFollow

Abstract

With the growing divide between the left and right, many on the left have raised alarms that Donald Trump is a fascist. My research paper compares Donald Trump’s messaging to Adolf Hitler’s messaging to find any similarities between the two in order to determine if Trumpism is a precursor to fascism. This study begins by looking at previous scholars’ research into whether or not Trumpism is a precursor to fascism and then I proceed to draw on primary sources such as speeches, Mein Kampf, and Trump’s TruthSocial posts, particularly those related to immigration and minorities, attacks on and suppression of the press, and attacks on political opponents. The analysis of primary sources concludes that while Trumpism is not a direct copy of fascism in Nazi Germany, many of the messaging strategies of the two leaders are similar. Trumpism is a precursor to fascism, but a new, distinct kind of fascism that is unique to the United States of America in the 21st-century.

Recommended Citation

Varney, Elaina (2026) "History Does Not Repeat Itself, But It Often Rhymes: Comparing the Messaging of Adolf Hitler and Donald Trump," Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal: Vol. 13: Iss. 1, Article 8.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61366/2576-2176.1173
Available at: https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/horizons/vol13/iss1/8

Primo Type

Article