Trump goes into full fascist-mode, calling a journalist’s attacker ‘my kind of guy’

Sticker portraying Trump with a Hitler moustache in front of a Nazi flag.


Support us and go ad-free

Donald Trump’s fascist tendencies have been obvious from the day he began his campaign for the White House. Of particular concern to commentators across the political spectrum has been his open and aggressive contempt for the press. And now, in a move reminiscent of 20th-century fascists, he has openly endorsed violence against a journalist.

“My kind of guy”

On 18 October, Trump heaped praise on a congressman from Montana who assaulted a journalist last year. Speaking at a rally in state’s capital, Missoula, Trump described Greg Gianforte, who represents the state in the US Congress, as a “great guy” and “tough cookie”. He said:

Any guy that can do a body slam, he’s my kind of guy.

Gianforte attacked Guardian political correspondent Ben Jacobs in 2017 at a campaign event. The ‘provocation’ for the assault was nothing more than an innocent question about healthcare policy that Jacobs had put to the Republican candidate. Gianforte was charged with misdemeanor (non-criminal) assault and was subsequently given a non-custodial sentence of fines, community service and anger management therapy after pleading guilty.

“An attack on the first amendment”

Frighteningly, Trump’s comments evoked cheers from the crowd of around 8,000 people. Though he has attacked the press on numerous occasions before, this marks the first time that he has publicly indicated approval of a physical attack against a journalist.

Press representatives have already roundly rebuked Trump for his comments. Editor of the Guardian US John Mulholland said:

To celebrate an attack on a journalist who was simply doing his job is an attack on the first amendment by someone who has taken an oath to defend it.

Read on...

The remarks have been denounced as particularly insensitive given that they come amidst a controversy surrounding the disappearance, and probable murder, of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump has so far failed to unequivocally condemn the Saudi government, a long-time US ally.

Twitter reacts

Reactions on Twitter have, unsurprisingly, expressed outrage but also a lack of shock given Trump’s record.

Many brought up Khashoggi’s alleged murder:

Others, meanwhile, suggested that this latest move crosses the threshold into outright fascism:

But it was Senator Bernie Sanders who made one of the best points:

Ominous times

Sanders hit the nail on the head. The world is a dangerous workplace for journalists. As a 2017 UNESCO report said, we are seeing “growing attacks on journalists”. The report states: “Between 2012 and 2016, 530 journalists were killed, an average of two deaths per week.”

Given these facts, Trump’s comments could hardly have come at a worse time. Because when the so-called ‘leader of the free world’ is openly endorsing attacks on journalists, this will embolden despots around the world to turn a blind eye or even actively participate in this kind of behavior.

We live in ominous times. And the need to fight the Trump agenda and push for a progressive wave in the upcoming midterms is more pressing than ever.

Get Involved!

– For information on truly progressive candidates in the US, see Our Revolution and Justice Democrats. And if you want more voters to choose the best candidate over the best-funded candidate, then support anti-corruption groups like Move to Amend, Represent.US, and Wolf-PAC.

– See other articles about Donald Trump at The Canary Global. Also visit our Facebook and Twitter pages for more of our international coverage.

– Join The Canary and support independent, non-corporate journalism.

Featured image via Frankie Leon/Flickr

We know everyone is suffering under the Tories - but the Canary is a vital weapon in our fight back, and we need your support

The Canary Workers’ Co-op knows life is hard. The Tories are waging a class war against us we’re all having to fight. But like trade unions and community organising, truly independent working-class media is a vital weapon in our armoury.

The Canary doesn’t have the budget of the corporate media. In fact, our income is over 1,000 times less than the Guardian’s. What we do have is a radical agenda that disrupts power and amplifies marginalised communities. But we can only do this with our readers’ support.

So please, help us continue to spread messages of resistance and hope. Even the smallest donation would mean the world to us.

Support us

Comments are closed