The stakes of the 2024 presidential election have reached a new high, as candidates increasingly question each other’s adherence to democratic principles. Recently, Vice President Kamala Harris described former President Donald Trump as a “fascist” during a CNN town hall, joining a growing number of voices concerned about the far-reaching implications of a second Trump administration. The question of Trump’s authoritarian tendencies now fuels both political rhetoric and progressive concern, setting the stage for a potentially historic showdown over democracy itself.
The accusations aren’t limited to Harris alone. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders also weighed in, noting Trump’s “strong, strong tendency toward authoritarianism.” In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Sanders addressed the validity of calling Trump a fascist, agreeing that the term captured Trump’s dangerous disregard for democratic norms and willingness to undermine the rule of law. “Clearly he has a strong, strong tendency toward authoritarianism, and to undermining American democracy,” Sanders said, referencing Trump’s encouragement of the January 6 insurrection.
Harris’s remarks followed a similar assessment by John Kelly, Trump’s former chief of staff, who recently warned of Trump’s desire for “Nazi-era generals.” Kelly publicly noted that Trump “falls into the general definition of fascist,” sparking additional public scrutiny. When asked directly whether she agreed with Kelly, Harris responded emphatically, “Yes, I do. Yes, I do.” Her response underscores the gravity with which progressive and establishment figures alike view the former president’s behavior and its potential implications for American governance.
Public opinion polls suggest that many Americans share these concerns. According to a recent ABC News/Ipsos poll, nearly half of Americans, or 49%, agree that Trump fits the description of a fascist. This sentiment reflects a growing unease with Trump’s rhetoric and past actions, from his handling of the January 6 attack to his continued embrace of authoritarian figures. Trump’s own policies — including his aggressive anti-immigrant stance and proposed far-right policies detailed in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 — reinforce these concerns.
While Harris has earned support from progressives for her unfiltered remarks, she faces criticism for her campaign strategy, which some say undermines her commitment to democratic values. Her “big tent” approach to coalition-building, which includes alliances with figures like former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz Cheney, has stirred discontent among left-leaning voters. Comedian and commentator Jon Stewart recently criticized Harris’s decision to campaign alongside the Cheneys. During an appearance on The Daily Show, Stewart asked Harris’s running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, “The Cheney thing — do we really have to do that?”
Many progressive leaders are echoing Stewart’s reservations. David Faris, a political science professor at Roosevelt University, criticized the move, calling it “a sign of deep, structural delusion inside the Harris campaign.” Faris wrote in Newsweek that by embracing a figure as polarizing as Cheney, Harris risks alienating her base in a race that could prove one of the closest in history. Progressive activist Elise Joshi echoed this concern, noting that the Harris campaign seems open to right-wing figures while excluding leftist voices. “The tent is big enough for a guy who got us into a war with Iraq, and then the tent is not big enough for a Palestinian to speak for two minutes on the DNC stage,” Joshi, executive director of Gen-Z for Change, remarked.
The debate around Trump’s potential fascism goes beyond mere rhetoric. His plans for a second term have raised concerns about a dismantling of federal safeguards designed to check executive power. Project 2025, a far-right roadmap created by the Heritage Foundation, provides a blueprint for sweeping government restructuring if Trump reclaims the White House. According to the project, Trump would likely pursue actions to concentrate federal power within the executive branch, sideline independent agencies, and consolidate control over key public institutions. The plan also calls for aggressive crackdowns on immigration and limitations on civil rights, policies that echo authoritarian regimes worldwide.
Sanders addressed the risks inherent in Trump’s policies, specifically drawing attention to Trump’s stance on international affairs. On Meet the Press, Sanders shared his opposition to Trump’s unconditional support of Israel’s current military actions in Gaza, citing Trump’s far-right agenda and lack of accountability. “Trump is even worse on this issue,” Sanders stated, emphasizing that the U.S. must push for humanitarian measures to address the crisis, not escalate it.
Another concern for Sanders is the influence of billionaire backers like Elon Musk, who have close connections with Trump and potentially far-reaching control in his administration. Musk has both personal and financial ties to the Trump campaign, recently pledging $1 million a day to registered voters in swing states who join his super PAC, a move some experts have called “vote-buying.” The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk, who maintains regular communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin, would likely wield significant power in a Trump administration.
“What really interests me is if, God forbid, Trump were to win, whether it would be Elon Musk running the government, and Trump working for him, or the other way around,” Sanders said. With Musk’s vast wealth and control over federal contracts, the conflict of interest is striking. Sanders warns that such ties to powerful foreign and domestic interests could compromise the integrity of a Trump administration.
Harris’s broad coalition strategy could backfire with critical voting blocs, particularly younger and more progressive voters. Her support for traditional Republican figures has left her vulnerable to accusations of compromising her core values. Layla Elabed, co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement, criticized Harris’s approach, stating, “It seems the signal we’ve gotten from her and her campaign is that she is willing to risk a battleground state like Michigan by continuing to alienate young people, Arab Americans, and Muslim Americans.”
As the campaign draws closer to election day, Harris’s coalition-building efforts may drive away voters who are concerned about issues such as police reform, climate change, and U.S. involvement in Gaza. Joshi and others contend that Harris is more focused on appealing to centrist voters than on engaging with diverse communities, particularly those pushing for meaningful policy changes. They warn that if the Democratic Party fails to address progressive concerns, it may be inadvertently boosting Trump’s appeal among disillusioned voters.
Sanders’s issued a final warning, “The idea that you have somebody like Musk who has massive amounts of federal contracts, campaigning hard, putting huge amounts of money into Trump’s campaign, man if there’s ever been a conflict of interest, that’s it.”
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