An article in The Atlantic details Adolf Hitler’s use of democracy to grab power in Germany & promptly snuff any trace of democracy. [FN1] In the quick evisceration of democracy Timothy W Ryback [FN2] describes, minutes counted. We have less than 12 days. 1/9

Hitler believed that his party’s plurality of 37% of the seats in the Reichstag meant “he should exercise absolute power.” [FN3] In Hitler’s 1st cabinet meeting, as Chancellor, “his main agenda item” was “the empowering law” to give him authority to keep campaign promises: 2/9

“revive the economy, reduce unemployment, increase military spending, withdraw from [] treaty obligations, purge the country of foreigners” [FN4] & get revenge on political opponents. [FN5] These all are campaign promises by trump. [FN6 - FN11] 3/9

The emergency we face is not simply national, but global: trump emulates Hitler and plans to carry out policies similar to Hitler’s. We still have time. Pres Biden can act on the national emergency already declared, i.e., Russian interference in our elections. 4/9

Adolf Hitler was the apotheosis of evil. I don’t doubt that trump had a book of quotations from Adolf Hitler next to his bed. My only question is, did trump beat off to it? 5/9

Footnotes:
FN1. Ryback, Timothy W., “How Hitler Dismantled a Democracy in 53 Days,” The Atlantic, Jan 8, 2025.
FN2. Ryback is a historian and director of the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation in The Hague. He is the author of several books on Hitler’s Germany, most recently Takeover: Hitler’s Final Rise to Power. 6/9

Footnotes:
FN3. Id., note 1.
FN4. Hitler claimed the foreigners were “poisoning the blood of the nation.” Id.
FN5. Id.
FN6. Tausche, Kayla, “Trump is considering a national economic emergency declaration to allow for new tariff program, sources say,” CNN, 1/8/25. 7/9

Footnotes:
FN7. Wiseman, Paul, “Frustrated Americans who voted for Trump await the economic changes he promised,” Politics Nov 9, 2024, accessed 1/8/25.
FN8. Foy, Nicole, “Trump promised to build more warships,” Propublica, 1/2/25, accessed 1/8/25. 8/9

Footnotes:
FN9. “Trump prepares to withdraw from Paris climate agreement,” Reuters, 11/8/24, accessed 1/8/25.
FN10. Gollom, Mark, “Trump wants to use a 226-year-old law to deport millions of undocumented migrants. Can he do it?” CBC News, 11/16/24, accessed 1/8/25.
FN11. Gerstein, Josh, “Trump promised to get revenge. Here are his targets,” Politico,” accessed 1/8/25. 9/9