In all three novels in the series, The Addlestone Chronicles, I attempt to offer parallels between Hitler and his version of Nazi fascism. Here are nine I have identified:
- Isolationism:
Once in power, both moved quickly to isolate their respective countries from other democratic nations. Hitler signed treaties with Italy and later Japan to form the Axis Alliance. During his presidency, Trump cut U.S. funding for NATO and stated that if re-elected, he would withdraw from NATO altogether. - Abrogation of Treaties:
Both sought to cancel treaties and agreements that promoted harmony with democratic nations. When Hitler took power in January 1933, he promised to honor the sovereignty of Poland and other Eastern European nations and to cede the Rhineland to France forever. However, by March 1935, his troops invaded and took control of Alsace-Lorraine. He violated every provision of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, which ended the Great War (WWI). Similarly, Trump threatened to defund and withdraw from NATO and instructed his MAGA followers in Congress to block funding for Ukraine and Taiwan, the latter facing direct threats from China. - Respect for Totalitarian Leaders:
Both expressed admiration for totalitarian leaders and quickly forged alliances with them. Hitler formed pacts with Italy, Japan, and even Stalin’s Soviet Union (before later invading it). Trump frequently expressed his admiration for Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian rule, Xi Jinping’s grip on China, and Viktor Orbán’s suspension of democratic institutions in Hungary. - Attack on Free Press:
Both Hitler and Trump attacked the free press, claiming that media criticism of their policies amounted to treason. Hitler’s Brownshirts and later his SS attacked and forcibly closed newspapers and magazines critical of his policies. He established the Völkischer Beobachter as a propaganda outlet and controlled the airwaves through the Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft. Trump used Fox News as a propaganda outlet until the network tempered its support following a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit. Trump has since created Truth Social to counter Twitter (now X) and to disseminate his messages. Other far-right outlets now include The Washington Examiner, Epoch Times, Newsmax, The Blaze, and Breitbart. - Appeal to White Nationalism:
Both sought support from white nationalists by targeting racial, religious, and ethnic minorities. Hitler’s Aryan ideology disenfranchised Jews, Roma, Slavs, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others, leading to their incarceration and murder. Trump has supported policies that promote mass deportation and voting roll purges targeting minorities. MAGA leaders in red states continue to implement measures that suppress voting access. - Support for Wealth and Militarism:
Trump openly supports white billionaires, the NRA, and far-right groups. His comment about immigrants “poisoning the blood of our country” echoes language from Hitler’s Mein Kampf. Hitler’s racism was enforced by Himmler’s SS and Göbbels’ propaganda. Trump’s first wife, Ivana, claimed he kept a book of Hitler’s speeches on his bedside table, though Trump denied reading it. - Opposition to Labor Unions:
Both attacked labor unions to empower industrial elites. Hitler dissolved unions, outlawed strikes, and replaced union leadership with Nazi officials, forming the Deutsche Arbeitsfront (DAF). Trump weakened union rights, discouraged collective bargaining, and filled courts with anti-labor judges. - Military Build-Up and Posturing:
Hitler expanded the Wehrmacht despite the Versailles Treaty. By 1939, Germany had 75 army divisions, a growing navy, and 400,000 personnel in the Luftwaffe. Trump raised the U.S. defense budget from $600 billion under Obama to $750 billion and founded the Space Force. Though of draft age during Vietnam, Trump avoided service citing “bone spurs.” - Purge of Dissenters:
Both purged government officials who were not loyal. Hitler dismissed generals after failed campaigns and replaced Jewish civil servants with Nazis. In the Nuremberg Trials, 199 Nazi leaders were tried, and millions of Jews and other minorities were murdered under Hitler’s regime. Trump, despite claiming to hire “the best people,” replaced 92% of his original advisors, many with loyalists. Several aides faced federal charges, and Trump pardoned many allies. He has promised to further purge civil servants if re-elected.