The more Trump tightens his hold, the more America begins to resemble the authoritarian regimes we were once taught to fear, writes DrNorm Sanders.

EVERY MORNING, school children all overAmerica put their hands over their hearts, face the ever-present flag and recite:

Noble thoughts, but the nation is becoming divided, and liberty and justice are definitely not for all. TheDonald Trumppresidency is rapidly becoming a dictatorship, much like the fate of theWeimar Republicin 1930s Germany.

The Weimar Republic, Germany's 12-year experiment with democracy, came to an end after the Nazis came to power in January 1933 and established a dictatorship underAdolf Hitler.

Donald Trump expressed the same aspirations in a 2024videoin which he dreamed of aunified reichif he won the upcoming U.S. Presidential Election. He subsequently took it down, but waited nearly a full day to remove it.

Comparing Trump to Hitler is not about equating their crimes but recognising similar patterns of demagoguery and democratic decay.

According toDavid Smith, writing forThe Guardian:

But, of course, Donald J Trump can and does frequently.

The assassination attempt on presidential candidate Donald Trump is a consequence of his own incitement of violence.

Smith writes:

Just like in Hitlers Germany.

Also, like Hitler, Trump is creating his own police force. Under the guise of protecting Americas borders, Trump established Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.).

According toWikipedia:

Lofty ideals, but the reality is far different. I.C.E. agents are unfettered by the normal restraints placed upon police officers. They wear masks and kidnap anyone they deem suspicious, which generally means those with dark skin.

I.C.E. agent recruiting is rapidly expanding with plans to hire 10,000 new agents. I.C.E. is pushing the message that it wantspatriotic Americansto join its ranks. They are promised $50,000 signing bonuses over three years on top of their yearly salary of $50,000 to $90,000.

Secret police are a quintessential feature of authoritarian regimes. I.C.E. is rapidly looking more and more like theGestapo.

The worlds walking on eggshells around a toddler with nukes maybe its time we stopped playing his game.

According toLee Morgenbesser, writing forThe Conversation:

Not content with having his own police force in I.C.E.,The Washington Postreports:

Another alarming development is Trumpstakeoverof the Washington, DC police force.

As Trump tightens his grip on America, South Park zooms in on something much, much smaller.

The New York Timesreports:

Trump would like to try the same tactic in other Democratic held cities like Chicago and Los Angeles. This would be far more difficult for him to accomplish because the District of Columbia is not a state like Illinois or California, but a Federal territory similar to the A.C.T. in Australia.

Taking over city police forces? Rapid deployment military forces for use within the United States? Armed, masked men abducting people off the streets on behalf of the U.S. Government? Political intelligence gathering and surveillance?

Sounds very much likeGeorge Orwells dystopian novel,Nineteen Eighty-Four:

DrNorm Sandersis a former commercial pilot, flightinstructor, university professor, Tasmanian State MP and Federal Senator.

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