Is Donald Trump a Fascist? | Robert Reich

Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Before entering politics, he was a businessman and television personality. Trump was born and raised in the New York City borough of Queens, and received an economics degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He took charge of his family's real-estate business in 1971, renamed it The Trump Organization, and expanded its operations from Queens and Brooklyn into Manhattan. The company built or renovated skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump later started various side ventures, mostly by licensing his name. Trump and his businesses have been involved in more than 4,000 state and federal legal actions, including six bankruptcies.

Trump entered the 2016 presidential race as a Republican and defeated 16 other candidates in the primaries. His political positions have been described as populist, protectionist, isolationist, and nationalist. He promised to build a wall on the Mexico–United States border, to renegotiate trade deals, to withdraw the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and to ban Muslims from entering the country. He also promised to appoint conservative judges to the Supreme Court.

Trump won the general election on November 8, 2016, in a surprise victory against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. He became the oldest first-term U.S. president, and the first without prior military or government service. His presidency has been marked by controversy, including his firing of FBI Director James Comey, his travel ban on citizens from several Muslim-majority countries, and his withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change. He has also been criticized for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump lost the 2020 presidential election to Democratic nominee Joe Biden, but refused to concede defeat. He made false claims of widespread voter fraud, and his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying Biden's victory. Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives for inciting the insurrection, but was acquitted by the Senate.

Trump remains a controversial figure, and his presidency has been the subject of much debate. His supporters praise him for his economic policies and his willingness to challenge the status quo. His critics argue that he is a demagogue who has damaged American democracy.

As of August 2023, Trump has over 87 million followers on Twitter, 34 million followers on Facebook, 23 million followers on Instagram, and 4.8 million followers on Truth Social.