The Right-Wing in the USA: Dumbed-Down and Dangerous

By David Starr

With the Trump regime back in power, there’s an even more dangerous scenario where the right will try to obliterate anything that is “un-American.” Their calls for freedom, liberty and democracy are meaningless distractions from their real agenda: an agenda that prioritizes hate, intolerance, persecution, ultranationalism, greed and, yes, fascism.

These individuals are not only dangerous. They are dumbed-down. Or, using a more direct term, stupid. 

There is gross incompetence among the right, with Trump-appointed characters of the billionaire class. Their general concern is profiteering. And to hell with everything and everyone else. That’s what it comes down to. And they are really unqualified for the positions they were appointed to in the Trump regime.

There is an article written by Andrew Latham that was published in The Hill, titled, “Calling Trump ‘fascist’ displays historical ignorance.” There’s the assertion that, “While Trump’s rhetoric and some policies are authoritarian and nationalistic, they lack the full structure and ideological underpinnings of classic fascism.” The Trump regime’s rule may not be exactly that of Hitler’s or Mussolini’s, but if there’s a chance, it could become classic fascism. It’s pointing that way.

There are points made in the article, for example: “First, fascism requires a coordinated state-driven project aimed at establishing an authoritarian, nationalist regime that aims for total control.” But isn’t that what the Trump regime is trying to do? “Second, although Trump’s rhetoric sometimes exhibits nationalistic and populist elements, he has neither suppressed his opposition nor dismantled the democratic process to the extent seen in true fascist regimes.” Trump and his ilk’s intentions would probably invite such an extent. 

But hasn’t it already been the case? The right-wing has practiced voter suppression for years. And Trump won that way in 2024. According to in-depth research done by investigative reporter Greg Palast, over 3 million votes were purged, votes that were intended for Kamala Harris. Especially targeted were people of color and Democratic voters. Trump, thus, does not have a mandate. The “win” was too easy, too good to be true. Election fraud? Probably.

Trump has suggested calling out the military to shoot protesters. Given his state of mind, it’s quite possible he would resort to that.

The Hill article mentions Trump’s cult of personality, which is “intense, [but] differs from the archetypal fascist adulation of leaders.” But people on the right have expressed that his word is virtually “law,” even claiming he was “sent” by God. 

There’s mention of scapegoating “specific groups and [enforcing] racial and cultural homogeneity.” That is what Trump and his followers have tried to do, scapegoating immigrants, Muslims, and other “undesirables.” And the right wants to dwell in the past, a past characterized mainly by homogeneity, i.e., being “true Americans.” 

According to Chauncey de Vega, writing in Salon, Trump has enacted “almost 100 executive orders, like voiding the 14^th Amendment, declaring a national emergency for Trump’s mass deportation plan, gutting the Department of Justice – seemingly as part of a plan to get revenge on his personal ‘enemies’ – firing inspectors general en masse, reversing 60 years of progress in civil and human rights and freezing federal loans and grants.” (It should be mentioned that Joe Biden did not enact almost 100 executive orders. Maybe he should have, given the circumstances.)

Further, “Trump’s followers and allies are excited by the chaos, because to them it is an example of a man of action and vitality; a great [dear] leader who is channeling the will and energy of the MAGA movement.” It’s like the blind leading the blind, a case of being really dumbed-down. 

And in his “Truth” Social account, an image was posted of Trump wearing a Capone-style fedora with a sign reading “FAFO” – meaning, Fuck around and find out, showing he’s a highly immature bully. Also included is a statement in the Salon piece about the “Trumpist mix of lies, stupidity and extremism.” In this case, stupidity equals a series of potentially dangerous situations.

On The Humanist Report, that stupidity is emphasized, with the host calling out Republicans for proposing insane ideas.

In another example of reporting stupidity in U.S. society, The Real Deal Press published an article by David DeWitt titled, “America’s love affair with confident stupidity has reached awful new highs.” There are statements that highlight the accomplishments of technology: “desks, tables, electronics, electricity, light bulbs, appliances, glassware, furniture, knick-knacks, artwork, paint, carpeting, buildings. All of these things require science, engineering, mathematics, chemistry, physics, logistics, expertise. Experts. Smart people. Smart people gave us all of this.

“And yet. We sneer at experts. We spit epithets like ‘academic elites’ at professors dedicating their lives to pursuing discovery that benefits humankind. And we worship flashy internet hucksters selling lifestyle scams. We mock intelligence and glorify egomania and materialism. We crave spectacle and are voyeurs for anger, confrontation, and violence.”

Further, “It is in these ways a very great many of adults are simply overgrown children.” 

In conclusion, a warning: “America’s love affair with swaggering ignorance and confident stupidity continues to reach awful new heights. The bill will come due. The piper will be paid. The damage will be extensive.”

There is a source that uses the word fascist against Trump and his ilk. Regardless of questioning its meaning. At the least, the Trump regime is pointing the way. The World Socialist Web Site published an article by Jacob Crosse titled, “CPAC 2025: A festival of fascist reaction.” CPAC is the Conservative Political Action Conference, of which Crosse writes is “the most prominent gathering of fascists on an international scale.”

One of the participants was Elon Musk, the animated fascist and parasite who for years relied on government subsidies for his businesses and yet condemns government “interference” in the economic and financial sectors. 

Crosse writes, “In a bizarre performance, Musk appeared on stage with a chainsaw handed to him by Argentinian President Javier Milei [who is a parasite in the form of an anarcho-libertarian-capitalist]. Wielding the chainsaw above his head while wearing all black clothing, large sunglasses and a black hat that featured ‘Make America Great Again’ in Gothic font, Musk bellowed, ‘This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy. Chainsaw!”

Musk praised his Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE (more like the Department of Greed and Excess) in an interview.

Meanwhile, back on stage, Musk “spent the rest of his time railing against immigrants and repeating neo-Nazi talking points that have animated several mass shootings in recent years.” Musk has given the impression that he supports Nazism, especially when he used the Nazi salute twice in an appearance. 

Another person who spoke was Steve Bannon, where he gave the Nazi salute at the end of his speech. Showing further proof of a fascist cult, Bannon said, that Trump’s enemies were “demonic” and referred to Trump as “an instrument of divine providence.” Crosse writes that Bannon also “stoked up the Republican faithful in attendance before delivering his fascist salute, by yelling, “…Are you prepared to fight?....Are you prepared to fight for Trump?... Fight! Fight! Fight!” 

Republican operative and neo-Nazi Jack Prosobiec, quoted by Crosse, declared that, “Donald Trump is the living embodiment of the American Constitution.” Prosobiec added that with Trump’s electoral “victory,” he had a “mandate” although as Crosse states, “he failed to receive the majority of the vote.” Prosobiec also quoted Trump, who said that “A man who saves his nation violates no law.” This is a reminder of Richard Nixon’s claim that if the president does it, it’s not illegal.

In conclusion, Crosse writes, “The fascist scum who populate CPAC are petrified over the coming eruption of class conflict in America,” and that the Trump regime represents the “crises of American capitalism.”

On the Kyle Kulinski show, the host reports on the fact that MAGA is no loner hiding its fascist tendencies, as evidenced in CPAC 2025.

Meanwhile, what are Democrat politicians doing to fully oppose the Trump regime? Not that much, really. There are condemnations of Trump and anti-Trump sign-holding, but the “resistance” is not effective enough. This is, with few exceptions, how the Democrats oppose Trump. A lot of barking but no bite. They only go so far, then suddenly act as conservative as the conservatives. It is an often-failed Third Way strategy of the Democrats.

On the Mother Jones web site, David Corn writes that Democrats don’t go far enough. “They need to be coordinating messaging and running a nonstop firehose of social media. A never-ending string of fiery speeches on the House and Senate floor, obstructionist tactics, the exploitation of every possible forum and platform. 

“Instead of licking wounds, Democrats ought to be showing some fight, conveying the perilous reality of the moment, and presenting themselves as a fierce and united bulwark against [the right’s treacherous attacks.] They need to rush to the barricades. All of them.” Wise words, but there are Democrats who won’t do this; namely, the corporate/neoliberal Democrats. And there are many of them.

Corn concludes, “This is a break-glass moment. A five-alarm fire. [The Democrats] must make sure the public clearly sees the crisis at hand, understands what’s at stake, every day and every way. That is indeed a tall order. But one thing is for sure: You cannot win a war you are not fighting.” 

Indeed, if the Democrats just continue with their Third Way strategy, i.e., cave to the Republicans in the name of bi-partisanship, then that gives the right-wing a bigger opening to try and impose their fascistic agenda. And it looks like Democrats will do just that.