Ex-Republican’s family 'fled' Italy to escape Mussolini — and she finds Trump 'hauntingly familiar'

12 June

Benito Mussolini with Adolf Hitler in Munich, Germany on June 18, 1940 (Everett Collection/Shutterstock.com)

One need only watch MSNBC or read The Bulwark to be reminded that some people on the right are scathing critics of President Donald Trump and the far-right MAGA Movement.

Although MSNBC leans liberal, three of its hosts were prominent figures in the Republican Party: ex-Rep. Joe Scarborough (R-Florida), former Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele, and former White House Communications Director Nicolle Wallace. And MSNBC's guests often include well-known Never Trump conservatives, from attorney George Conway to journalist Charlie Sykes to ex-GOP strategists Tim Miller and Rick Wilson.

Meanwhile, The Bulwark specializes in anti-Trump voices on the right, including Bill Kristol and former Nancy Reagan speechwriter Mona Charen.

A recurring theme among Never Trumpers is that 2025's Trumpified GOP is unrecognizable from the GOP of President Ronald Reagan and Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-Arizona). And journalist/author Paolina Milana details her reasons for leaving the Republican Party in an op-ed published by The Guardian on June 1.

"I'm writing this not as a Democrat or an independent, but as someone who, for most of her life, was a proud Republican," Milana explains. "I voted for Ronald Reagan and admired his belief that 'character counts.' I believed in personal responsibility, faith and country — and the Republican Party seemed to reflect those values. I even rooted for George W. Bush during the chaotic 'hanging chads' recount in 2000, not because I thought he was perfect, but because I believed he would lead with decency and conviction. And for years, I found deep comfort in witnessing moments of unity between former and current presidents — particularly the warm, genuine respect between George W. Bush and the Obamas."

Milana continues, "Different parties. Different ideologies. But a shared belief in democracy. In service. In 'we the people.' That spirit is gone now. My allegiance to the Republican Party ended when a conman made it into office — and worse, when the party I once revered stood by and let it happen."

Milana, who is Italian-American, describes herself as "the daughter of immigrants who fled Benito Mussolini's fascist regime" — and she views MAGA as authoritarian rather than traditionally conservative.

"My family knew firsthand how democracies fall — not in an instant, but in small, complicit steps," Milana warns. "What I’m witnessing in the U.S. today is hauntingly familiar. I now live in Los Angeles, watching more terror being wielded by a king wannabe — a man who labels disagreement 'fake," who calls critics 'un-American,' and who seeks not to govern, but to dominate. And far too many continue to enable him…. Even now — especially now — I still believe America can be saved. But not if we keep pretending this is normal."

Paolina Milana's full op-ed for The Guardian is available at this link.

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