Thread by @FinchelsteinF

Fascism & escape from reality are synonymous. These applies to leaders & followers. In recent days, Trump insisted on his great lies, "They rigged and stole our 2020 Presidential Election, which we won by a landslide" & "Radical Left will destroy our Country if we let them."

When you study Trump's recent statements you can confirm how close we were to fascism in the USA.
Not only theorists like Arendt or Adorno noted this issue of fascist simplification as a source of authority via denial of reality...but fascists were quite explicit about this.

Adorno wrote, "By talking with individuals of fascist leanings, one can learn the psychological implications of this ‘key’ idea. Their more-or-less cryptic hints frequently reveal a kind of sinister pride; they speak as if they were in the know and had solved a riddle

otherwise unsolved by mankind (no matter how often their solution has been already expressed). They raise literally or figuratively their forefinger, sometimes with a smile of superior indulgence; they know the answer for everything and present to their partners in discussion

the absolute security of those who have cut off the contacts by which any modification of their formula may occur. Probably it is this delusion-like security which casts its spell over those who feel insecure.”

Adorno also linked the fascist notion of truth as being deeply rooted in revelation. In other world relying on neutered religious notions defined the acceptance of fascism among followers

As Adorno said,"Here lies one of the roots of the stubborn, conscious, and manipulative irrationalism of the Nazis, as it was summed up by Hitler’s saying: “One can die only for an idea which one does not understand.")"

Fascists leaders & theorists expected their followers to accept extraordinary explanations which were simplistic & at the same time unbelievable. The acceptance of this simplified reality as truth defined the followers of fascism. This made fascists often impermeable to reality.

Truth in fascism was the result of belief. This is why as the Italian fascist nicknamed Volt put it: “As a principle the fascist truth is immutable, eternal.” Another fascist Federico Forni wrote “fascism is immutable and eternal in its fundamental principles.”

& here we can return to think about the appeal of Trumpism among followers. The failed leader continues to offer believers the virutal gift of an ideal world to live in via a fascist-like flight from reality

In this racially idealized America the victimizers become victims. The loser winners, etc. This is the appeal of Trumpism & it is rooted in fascist conceptions. The end.