'Imminent defeat': Alarm sounded on 'dangerous' Trump triggers

Author/college professor Federico Finchelstein, who teaches at Lang College and the New School for Social Research in New York City, is known for focusing on authoritarian movements, past and present — which he does in his latest book, "The Wannabe Fascists: A Guide to Understanding the Greatest Threat to Democracy Federico Finchelstein." And he includes the United States in his list of countries he believes is under threat from the far right.

During an interview with Salon's Chauncey DeVega published in Q&A form on June 5, Finchelstein warned that President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement could become even more "dangerous" if he fears his agenda is in trouble.

"I am not shocked by the extremism of Trumpism," Finchelstein told DeVega. "But the Trump Administration has failed in many ways, and yet, it will keep trying to degrade American democracy as much as it can. A troubling question is: How will Trump and MAGA escalate their attacks on democracy and the rule of law to remain in power? I am very pessimistic in this regard. It is always more dangerous when totalitarians rule in the face of imminent defeat."

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Finchelstein continued, "Trump has clearly not yet achieved that level of power — I emphasize 'yet.' This explains why Donald Trump and his administration and forces more broadly are not as bold as they could be in terms of advancing Trump's goal of destroying constitutional democracy…. My own view, an educated guess of sorts, is that we are in the middle, at least, of Trump's radicalization towards fascism."

Finchelstein argued that although "intolerance, racism and violence" have always existed in the U.S., "Trumpism" is a "change from previous norms and administrations" because "it is way more disruptive."

"Extreme forms of populism that are oriented towards fascism are now at the helm of the most powerful country in the world," Finchelstein told DeVega. "Trumpism is more anti-democratic than its predecessors, and it also exerts a big influence outside of the United States. Trumpism is toxic for democratic life here in the United States and around the world…. Many people do not care about the harm that Trumpism is causing democracy. Many of the Trump followers are hardcore, diehard believers in fascism in its varied forms and the quest for total domination that is fueled by hatred. But many other Trump supporters, a majority of them, are just hoping for a better economic situation."

Finchelstein added, "It is dubious that Trump's policies will create that outcome. And of course, those Trump supporters have ignored or otherwise put aside many of the most troubling dimensions of Trumpism, such as racism, nativism, sexism and wanton cruelty. "

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Chauncey DeVega's full interview with Federico Finchelstein for Salon is available at this link.