Ruth Ben-Ghiat, an expert in authoritarianism, highlighted a specific intent behind Donald Trump’s escalation of divisive and “fascist rhetoric.” This scrutiny arose once again when the former president made inflammatory remarks at a New Hampshire rally over the weekend, asserting that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country.” According to Ben-Ghiat, Trump’s intensified use of such rhetoric serves a very deliberate purpose.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor at New York University and an expert in authoritarianism, asserted that the Trump campaign has been explicit about its intentions toward immigrants. Speaking to CNN’s Jim Acosta, she pointed out the campaign’s indications of planned “mass deportations, mass detentions, likely abuses, and violence in those operations” if Donald Trump were to regain the presidency in 2024.
According to Ben-Ghiat, Trump’s language, which dehumanizes immigrants, serves the purpose of conditioning Americans to accept potential repression in the future. She expressed concern that Trump’s agenda may not be limited to targeting immigrants alone, suggesting that others could also become the focus. a specific intent behind
She highlighted Trump’s references to mental institutions and prisons in his speeches, expressing worry about his repeated mentions of the need to expand psychiatric institutions to confine individuals. Ben-Ghiat mentioned a specific instance where Trump referred to special prosecutor Jack Smith as someone who should be placed in a “mental institution.”
Drawing parallels with historical practices by fascists and communists, Ben-Ghiat cautioned that putting people who dissent or challenge state propaganda into psychiatric institutions was a tactic used in the past. She concluded that the potential targets of such actions may extend beyond immigrants, raising concerns about the broader impact on individuals critical of the state.