19 July—Why, a Republican reader who claims to be neither MAGA nor “TRUMPublican,” asks, am I obsessed with Trump-Hitler comparisons? Even given all of Trump’s “numerous faults,” as the reader puts it, “there is no comparison because look what Hitler did.”

Fair question and I’m looking at what Hitler did. But am I obsessed or simply aware of the obvious? Anyway, abstractly, anything can be compared with anything else whether or not there are similarities. And, putting aside Hitler’s virulent antisemitism and xenophobia and the Holocaust his megalomaniacal insanity engendered, I regularly, rightly, and unapologetically comment on the similarities of what Hitler did to what Trump has done and is doing because they are so striking. And frightening.

Trump’s self-dealing, using his virtually unlimited power for personal gain, and other financial shenanigans in and out of the presidency are the stuff of legend. Yesterday’s disquisition dealt, however superficially, with Hitler’s self-dealing, using his virtually unlimited power for personal gain, which, given all Hitler’s other faults and the enormity of his crimes, historians and commentators tend to ignore.

And that’s only a small part of the Hitler-Trump similarities. Both autocrats are clearly demented. Both are brilliant demagogues. Hitler rehearsed virtually everything, while Trump usually extemporizes, though he’s known to rehearse; and, as with Thursday’s pathetic performance, he reads from a teleprompter when he feels the need.

Hitler and Trump have cadres of super-loyal flunkies. Hitler and Trump have cultivated cults of personality to portray themselves as infallible people, virtual gods. Trump admires the loyalty Hitler was able to claim from (most of) his generals. Trump also admires dictators.

Hitler and Trump make themselves out to be populists, claiming falsely and opportunistically to represent the interests of ordinary people rather than the corrupt klepto-oligarchs (like themselves) whose interests they really represent. And when you come down to it, their own personal interests supersede all others without question.

Hitler and Trump attack judges who don’t suit them. Hitler was able to fire more judges than Trump, to be sure. Trump has been able to fire only about 100 immigration judges because they work for the Department of Justice, which he has weaponized as his personal shysters.

Donald Trump may not be an antisemite or bigot, and it’s likely he’s espoused xenophobia only for opportunistic political advantage. But, like Hitler, he’s dangerously deranged and has authorized murders and other atrocities. And he’ll go as far as he can to abuse the law and public trust for his own advantage.

That’s only a start. But it’s clear that the Hitler-Trump comparison is valid and necessary . . .