The Hitler-Trump analogy is controversial. “Some of Trump’s critics – including Biden’s campaign – argue that Trump’s incendiary rhetoric and authoritarian behavior justify the comparison,” the Politico website observed recently. “Meanwhile, Trump’s defenders – and even some of his more historically-minded critics – argue that the comparison is ahistorical; that he’s not a true fascist.”
The former camp now includes Henk de Berg, a professor of German at the University of Sheffield in Britain. The Dutchman, whose previous books include Freud’s Theory and Its Use in Literary and Cultural Studies, has just published Trump and Hitler: A Comparative Study in Lying.
In it, De Berg compares and contrasts Hitler and Trump as political performance artists and how they connect with their respective audiences. He examines the two men’s work ethic, management style and narcissism, as well as quirks such as Hitler’s toothbrush moustache and Trump’s implausible blond hair.
In a Zoom interview from his office at the university campus, De Berg quotes the American comedian and actor George Burns: “The most important thing in acting is honesty. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.” He adds: “The most important thing in populism is authenticity. The moment you’re able to fake that, you’re in.”
Hitlers ideology was formed by his narcissism just like Trump’s. Hitler had more fully formed ideas and was at least somewhat consistent whereas Trump will just spout whatever will get him the most attention at any given moment. But if you look at Hitler before 1933, the similarities are really eerie.
People overestimate how ideological Hitler was. Mein Kampf is full of half-baked random thoughts.
Were Trump a younger man, he would probably also evolve more of an ideology because it’s easier when your bullshit is consistent. You can pronounce truths from on high and declare failures as incompetence while railing about being the only one smart enough to understand and constantly surrounded by idiots.