'How you get to fascist governance': Expert rips GOPer’s response to Trump praising Hitler

A noted professor, historian, and expert on authoritarianism and fascism is strongly criticizing the Republican governor of New Hampshire, Chris Sununu, for dismissing reports that Donald Trump repeatedly had said he wanted “Hitler’s generals” when he was president, as just “baked in to the vote.”

Gov. Sununu, who told CNN Wednesday he is still supports Donald Trump’s campaign for president, despite Trump’s embrace of Adolf Hitler’s regime and praise for Hitler, called it just “kind of par for the course.”

“Look, we’ve heard a lot of extreme things about Donald Trump from Donald Trump,” Sununu said on CNN, somewhat chuckling. Uh, it’s kind of par for the course. It’s really, unfortunately, uh, with with a guy like that, it’s kind of baked in to the vote at this point.”

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“Uh, so those last swing voters are just gonna kind of push towards what’s gonna get get a little ease on my on my family, a little ease on the cost of living.”

Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a professor of history and Italian studies, and an advisor to Protect Democracy, responded to Sununu’s remarks.

“I see,” she said, critically, “so even Hitler does not move the needle and the extremism is now completely normallzed [sic]. That kind of acceptance and cowardice is exactly how you get to Fascist governance.”

Jonathan Greenburg, an investigative financial and legal journalist who says he has “known, and written about, Donald Trump longer than any reporter working today,” responded: “An incredible admission!”

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“It should be headline news everywhere. Sununu, who is seen as a moderate GOPer, now says that Hitler fascism is baked into the cake’ of Trump’s appeal & that is a reason people are still voting for him!”

The Atlantic’s Tom Nichols added, “Crass opportunists like Sununu know Trump will be a disaster, but somehow believe that they will be spared from the damage Trump will inflict on the nation – and then they will return as honored Wise Men to rebuild the GOP.”

The New Hampshire Democratic Party also responded, blasting the GOP governor from their state: “This is the Chris Sununu we’ve known for years — gutless and unwilling to stand up for what’s right for New Hampshire and the country. If you can’t denounce this, there’s truly no bottom. What a shameful, sad legacy to leave.”