"For one thing, there were too many elements of classical fascism that didn't seem to fit. For another, the term has been overused to the point of meaninglessness, especially by left-leaning types who call you a fascist if you oppose abortion or affirmative action. For yet another, the term is hazily defined, even by its adherents. From the beginning, fascism has been an incoherent doctrine, and even today scholars can't agree on its definition. Italy's original version differed from Germany's, which differed from Spain's."
""He listens to Putin, he listens to Xi, he listens to how they talk about governing unburdened by uncooperative legislatures, unconcerned with what the judiciary may do, and he thinks to himself, Why can't I do that? This doesn't amount to being a fascist, in my view, [or] having a theory of how you want to govern. It's just Why can't I have the same fun they have?""
Resistance to labeling President Trump as fascist arose from incomplete alignment with classical fascism, widespread overuse of the term, and its conceptual vagueness. Historical fascisms varied greatly across Italy, Germany, Spain, and Japan, undermining a single definition. The MAGA movement exhibits clear authoritarian and patrimonial traits, prompting the label "semi-fascist." Trump's behavior reflects a desire to govern unburdened by laws and institutions, influenced by comparisons to Putin and Xi. Patrimonialism treats the state as the leader's personal property, centering loyalty to the boss rather than a coherent ideology, and can overlay many organizations from political machines to criminal gangs.
Read at The Atlantic
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