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The authoritarian nationalist leader typically rewrites the story of the nation in his own image in a very particular way. Our own homegrown authoritarian nationalist has proved particularly devoted to this fusion of national mythmaking
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/…
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/…
often delivered in his own unique language of crass, gaudy spectacle.
The historians tell us that this is what authoritarian nationalists do. they replace history with tried-and-true fictions — false tales of national decline at the hands of invented threats, melded to
The historians tell us that this is what authoritarian nationalists do. they replace history with tried-and-true fictions — false tales of national decline at the hands of invented threats, melded to
fictitious stories of renewed national greatness, engineered by the leader himself, who is both author of the fiction and its mythic hero.
White House is handing out tickets to the event to GOP donors and political appointees. Passes are being distributed by the RNC and
White House is handing out tickets to the event to GOP donors and political appointees. Passes are being distributed by the RNC and
Trump’s reelection campaign.
Trump campaigned on the false story of an America in steep decline. He embellished this story with endless lies and demagoguery about immigrants, and about how international engagement supposedly resulted in foreign leaders “laughing at” and
Trump campaigned on the false story of an America in steep decline. He embellished this story with endless lies and demagoguery about immigrants, and about how international engagement supposedly resulted in foreign leaders “laughing at” and
“humiliating” us. Central to this tale was the constant refrain that our military has been “depleted,” the ultimate symbol of that national decline.
There is no doubt that Trump envisions this Fourth of July speech — delivered amid a show of military might — as a display
There is no doubt that Trump envisions this Fourth of July speech — delivered amid a show of military might — as a display
of his own imagined role in “restoring” U.S. greatness.
But the whole story Trump told about American decline is false, and it is producing epic policy disasters. The demented worldview undergirding his lies about immigrants is producing a horrific humanitarian catastrophe.
But the whole story Trump told about American decline is false, and it is producing epic policy disasters. The demented worldview undergirding his lies about immigrants is producing a horrific humanitarian catastrophe.
The anti-globalization rhetoric — while containing kernels of truth — has in practice produced a combination of bread-and-circuses bluster toward foreign elites and destructive trade wars with no end.
Meanwhile, Trump’s turn away from international engagement has in
Meanwhile, Trump’s turn away from international engagement has in
practice meant a genuine embrace of strongman authoritarian nationalism, and with it, a very real abandonment of the ideals of liberal democracy. (Not that Trump knows what that means)
Nobody, to be sure, has a monopoly on the meaning of America and its history. That is a
Nobody, to be sure, has a monopoly on the meaning of America and its history. That is a
big reason we celebrate the Fourth of July today as well. Trump will read aloud some words of his own about Jefferson and Lincoln that were written for him to create the impression that he grasps these things. But the celebration itself will reveal that he very much does not.
