History Does Not Repeat Itself, But It Often Rhymes: Comparing the Messaging of Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler
Location
John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #115
Event Website
https://2026undergraduateresearchsy.sched.com/event/2Ix8b/history-does-not-repeat-itself-but-it-often-rhymes-comparing-the-messaging-of-donald-trump-and-adolf-hitler
Start Date
15-4-2026 4:30 PM
End Date
15-4-2026 5:00 PM
Description
With the growing divide between the left and right, many on the left have raised alarms that Donald Trump is a fascist. My presentation, based upon my original 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.
Publication Date
2026
History Does Not Repeat Itself, But It Often Rhymes: Comparing the Messaging of Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler
John Q. Imholte Hall, Room #115
With the growing divide between the left and right, many on the left have raised alarms that Donald Trump is a fascist. My presentation, based upon my original 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.
https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/urs_event/2026/oralpresentations/8