Why being called 'weird' infuriates MAGA 'authoritarians': historian

When Vice President Kamala Harris held a large campaign rally with her running mate, Tim Walz, at Philadelphia late Tuesday afternoon, August 6, the Minnesota governor was more than happy take credit for an insult that numerous Democrats are using to attack former President Donald Trump, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and other MAGA Republicans: "weird."

The "weird" insult originated with Walz. And Harris' running mate drew loud applause when he told the Philly crowd, "You know it, you feel it: These guys are creepy and, yes, just weird as hell."

In an op-ed published by MSNBC the following day, historian/author Ruth Ben-Ghiat lays out some reasons why the "weird" insult infuriates MAGA Republicans.

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"For scholars of authoritarianism," Ben-Ghiat explains, "the success of 'weird' is no surprise. That's because humor has long been one of the most effective weapons of anti-authoritarian politics. Behind the facade of their omnipotence, most strongmen are brittle and insecure personalities. They don't mind being called evil, but being ridiculed is a different matter."

During its 49-year history, "Saturday Night Live" has lampooned one U.S. president after another. Most of them, from Gerald R. Ford to George H.W. Bush to Joe Biden, had a sense of humor about it. But Trump was seriously offended by Alec Baldwin's portrayal of him.

Ben-Ghiat, author of the book "Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present Reprint Edition," emphasizes that one thing authoritarians really can't stand is being mocked.

"Strongmen have their own sadistic sense of humor, which is amply displayed in the awful authoritarian spectacles staged by their governments," according to Ben-Ghiat. "The Nazis enjoyed making communists who entered Dachau concentration camp in 1933, like Hans Beimler, wear signs that said 'A hearty welcome!' But they cannot take a joke when they are the targets."

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Ben-Ghiat continues, "That's why they have to surround themselves with sycophants and lackeys, and their enablers know their prestige must be policed. When a man brought his pet rabbit named Mussolini to a bar in fascist Italy, thinking others would enjoy seeing him order it around, he was quickly arrested and served a year in confinement."

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Ruth Ben-Ghiat's full op-ed for MSNBC is available at this link.