Authoritarianism Expert Warns Of What Trump’s New Promise Really Means

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Critics are calling out Donald Trump after the former president on Sunday advocated for police to be allowed “one really violent day” in which they could be “extraordinarily rough” with anyone they suspect of a crime.

“One rough hour, and I mean real rough, the word will get out, and it will end immediately. End immediately,” Trump said of his plan to stop crime. “You know, it’ll end immediately.”

Speaking in the swing state of Pennsylvania, Trump suggested that Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Penn.) ― who, outside of politics, owns auto dealerships ― could somehow be in charge of such an effort “for one day.”

“This chills me,” historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of books about fascism and authoritarianism, wrote on X.

She added:

I study dictators and this chills me. Given all his comments in the past about executing people & shooting looters and his admiration for leaders specialized in mass repression, it’s not hard to imagine what “one really violent day” would mean. https://t.co/5Z2RVH1273

— Ruth Ben-Ghiat (@ruthbenghiat) September 29, 2024

Others also slammed Trump, with many pointing to frightening historical parallels going back to Nazi Germany:

In PA today, Donald Trump gave one of the most dangerous speeches of the 21st century by describing his strategy for reducing crime as Kristallnacht, “one extraordinarily rough, one really rough nasty day. One rough hour. You know it’ll end immediately.”https://t.co/tR06J07hQ5pic.twitter.com/Y0lYApPVDC

— Jim Stewartson, Counterinsurgent 🇺🇸🇺🇦💙🎈 (@jimstewartson) September 29, 2024

fascism https://t.co/qGiwFwprZN

— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) September 30, 2024

For those history buffs out there – yes, he’s calling for the Night of Broken Glass (Kristallnacht) https://t.co/vMeIGButMvhttps://t.co/9wd0mQDhxH

— Jamie Chapman 🔬🔬 (@Chapman_Histo) September 30, 2024

Trump has said he is willing to use the military on civilians and now says that he would have one “really violent day” to teach all potential shoplifters a lesson.

Anyone who thinks Trump doesn’t dream about ruling over a violent fascist regime is kidding themselves.

— Jared Ryan Sears (@JaredRyanSears) September 29, 2024

Relax everyone.
It’s only “one really violent day” or perhaps just “one rough hour”.

I’m sure things will go back to normal after they’ve got that out of their systems.

That a major party presidential nominee could ever be talking like this should be a stain on the GOP forever. https://t.co/O9QlbjiGI0

— Dr. Karen Stenner (@karen_stenner) September 30, 2024

To his fans, I’m sure Kristallnacht II sounds like a hoot. https://t.co/sSdVT1L3VT

— Mike Selinker (@mikeselinker) September 30, 2024

At a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, today, former President Trump said this when talking about police responding to shoplifting in stores:

“If you had one really violent day…one rough hour, and I mean real rough, the word would get out and it will end immediately.” https://t.co/815fQOK8Pz

— Taylor Popielarz (@TaylorPopielarz) September 29, 2024

Is he just outright encouraging police brutality??

— Douglas Farmer (@D_Farmer) September 29, 2024

No big deal, just one of the two candidates for President calling for a “really violent day” of nationwide police brutality. Don’t bother covering this as a major story, anyone. https://t.co/gzO6XVk54I

— Dan Cluchey (@dancluchey) September 29, 2024

One side arguing for Kristallnacht… pay attention #VoteBlue2024Peoplehttps://t.co/bn3dXErb13

— Jill E Bean https://spoutible.com/JillEBean10 (@JillEBean10) September 30, 2024

Criminal asks the police to beat up criminals. https://t.co/9Y07qAZ07T

— Tim Byrne (@TByrne75) September 30, 2024

A little unchecked Police brutality should do the trick . #HarrisWalz2024https://t.co/X2rorxvH53

— Lenny Jacobson (@Lennyjacobson) September 29, 2024

Extraordinarily incendiary language here from Trump https://t.co/svUegno53O

— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) September 29, 2024

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We’re about two rallies away from him proposing a purge.

— SnarkTank (@TheSnarkTank99) September 29, 2024

Yeah, there’s a word for that…

Kristallnacht. https://t.co/SUyiJDyzGHpic.twitter.com/r3dKG7pOVy

— Kev in Your Area 🖤🩷♦️💜🧡 (@SmashvilleKP) September 30, 2024

Kristallnacht. That’s what Trump is asking for with this purge in a day of violence.

I hope the younger ones understand what that means. https://t.co/ihgNsh4Gnwhttps://t.co/mLem9pnrtb

— Dr Gina van Raphael (@AliaGvR) September 30, 2024

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