Democracy Under Siege
The New Reich Day 53 - The Chilling Parallels Between Trump and Hitler's Democracies
03/26/2025 Updated: New title and another documented case relating to Erosion of Democratic Institutions.
It's Day 53 and we're standing at a fucking precipice. If you have been reading my Substack notes, you know I incorporate my children's perspectives as I fight to preserve democracy for their generation and beyond.
Yesterday, my daughter asked about my plans for the day as she was getting ready for school. "I'm documenting the parallels between Trump and Hitler as it only took 53 days to dismantle German democracy." She stopped looking for clothes to wear, and stated "hummm 53 days, but I don't think democracy has completely died yet." She paused, then added with nervous laughter, "yet." That second "yet" hung in the air between us, loaded with anxiety about what comes next.
She's right to be concerned. What began as a slow erosion of democratic norms has accelerated into a full-blown assault on institutions, civil rights, and the rule of law. The parallels between Trump and Hitler's rise to power are no longer theoretical—they're unfolding in real time. From the gutting of independent agencies to the weaponization of propaganda, the playbook is eerily familiar.
Elon Musk, Trump's billionaire enabler, is not just a bystander in this authoritarian takeover—he's a key player. Together, they're dismantling oversight, consolidating power, weaponizing propaganda, and silencing dissent. This isn't just a political crisis—it's a moral one.
My daughter's nervous "yet" speaks volumes. That anxiety isn't paranoia; it's the appropriate response to witnessing the systematic dismantling of democratic guardrails in real time—not in history books, not in distant countries, but right here. This documentation isn't academic; it's essential evidence for those fighting to preserve what remains of our democratic system.
The question isn't whether democracy can fall here—it's whether we recognize the fall while we still have time to stop it.
Consolidation of Power: Gleichschaltung 2.0
Hitler's Gleichschaltung wasn't just a policy—it was a fucking masterclass in how to dismantle democracy while maintaining a veneer of legitimacy. After the Reichstag fire in February 1933, Hitler convinced President Hindenburg to sign the Reichstag Fire Decree, suspending civil liberties and allowing the arrest of political opponents without specific charges. Within weeks, his Enabling Act effectively ended parliamentary democracy by giving him the power to enact laws without Reichstag approval.
By April 1933—just 53 days after becoming Chancellor—Hitler had purged the civil service of Jews and political opponents, replacing them with Nazi loyalists. This wasn't random; it was systematic elimination of independent governance.
Trump is executing the same playbook with surgical precision. According to The Hill's investigation,
"The Justice Department's Public Integrity Section, responsible for prosecuting corruption in government, has been quietly gutted by half, with cases now being redirected to Trump's political appointees.”
The gutting of the DOJ's Public Integrity Section isn't just another bureaucratic reshuffling—it's a fucking calculated move to neutalize anti-corruption mechanisms. By slashing this unit in half and shifting corruption cases to political appointees, Trump has effectively created a shield for his allies and a weapon against his enemies.
A whistleblower at USAID told CBS News that staff were
"instructed to shred or burn classified documents at unprecedented rates,"
with one senior official reportedly saying,
"If it might make us look bad later, it needs to disappear now."
The USAID document purge mirrors Hitler's meticulous destruction of incriminating records. The Nazi regime routinely destroyed documents detailing their crimes—particularly in 1945 as defeat loomed—while Trump officials are ordering the shredding or burning of classified documents at unprecedented rates. Both actions serve the same purpose: eliminating evidence of potential crimes.
Just as Hitler centralized educational control under Nazi ideology through the Reich Education Ministry and Hitler Youth, Trump's systematic dismantling of the Education Department—laying off over 1,300 employees—creates a power vacuum allowing ideological capture of educational standards at the state level.
The DEI Purge: Ideological Cleansing of Government
The systematic dismantling of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies represents a fucking chilling parallel to Nazi "cleansing" of institutions. U.S. Air Force removing training materials featuring the Tuskegee Airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots isn't just administrative reorganization—it's deliberate erasure of contributions from historically marginalized groups to create a whitewashed historical narrative.
A Politico investigation found
"staffers working in diversity, equity, and inclusion programs have been summarily placed on administrative leave, with many receiving directions to clear their desks within hours."
One anonymous federal employee described the atmosphere as
"a fucking witch hunt where anyone associated with DEI is treated as disloyal to the administration."
Federal employees in DEI programs being placed on administrative leave signals the beginning of an ideological purge reminiscent of Hitler's early targeting of "undesirables" within government. The widespread fear among federal workers, driving increased secure communications usage and union protection seeking, shows the real-time collapse of institutional independence.
This isn't "policy change"—it's a methodical elimination of perspectives and people who don't conform to the regime's preferred vision of America. Just as Hitler's consolidation required the removal of Jewish civil servants and political opponents, Trump's purge targets those who represent or support diversity and inclusion.
Sources:
The Coming of the Third Reich by Richard J. Evans (Hitler’s consolidation of power).
Politico: Federal Workers Terrified Amid Trump's Overhaul of Bureaucracy
Financialization and Corruption: Cronyism on Steroids
Hitler's economic model thrived on merging state and corporate power. German industrialists like Fritz Thyssen, Gustav Krupp, and executives at I.G. Farben provided critical financial support to the Nazi Party in exchange for government contracts, favorable regulations, and the crushing of labor unions. Hitler's Four-Year Plan of 1936 further consolidated economic control under the state while enriching loyal business leaders.
Trump's financialization playbook follows this template precisely. The Tesla showroom on the White House lawn wasn't just a photo op—it was a fucking advertisement. When the president transforms the people's house into a corporate billboard while Musk funnels $100 million into his political operation, we're witnessing the same blurring of state and corporate interests that characterized Nazi economic systems.
The SEC's decision to revoke enforcement staff's authority to launch investigations represents a catastrophic breakdown in financial oversight reminiscent of Hitler's dismantling of independent economic regulation. By 1934, Hitler had eliminated independent labor unions, replacing them with the Nazi-controlled German Labor Front, just as Trump has shifted financial oversight to political appointees.
Musk’s Starlink pursuing a potentially lucrative $2.4 billion FAA telecom contract should set off fucking alarm bells, even as Starlink publicly denies interest in taking over the FAA US air traffic contract. This pattern of corporate-government entanglement mirrors how Nazi-aligned industrialists received preferential government contracts. Companies like Krupp and I.G. Farben saw their profits skyrocket under Nazi rule while becoming increasingly dependent on the regime—creating a corrupt symbiosis that Trump and Musk are replicating in real time.
Sources:
The Wages of Destruction by Adam Tooze (Hitler’s economic model)
New York Times: Musk Seeks to Put $100 Million Directly Into Trump Political Operation
Reuters: US SEC revokes staff's authority to launch formal probes
Reuters: Musk's Starlink denies it wants to take over FAA US air traffic contract
Propaganda and Scapegoating: The Enemy of the People
Hitler's propaganda machine, directed by Joseph Goebbels, transformed German media into a weapon. By 1933, over 4,700 newspapers were either shut down or taken over by Nazi loyalists. The Reich Press Chamber controlled all journalists, requiring them to prove Aryan ancestry and political reliability. Hitler's infamous "Lügenpresse" (lying press) attacks created public distrust of independent journalism—a direct precursor to "fake news" rhetoric.
Trump's crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists like Columbia University's Mahmoud Khalil mirrors Hitler's targeting of political dissidents. By March 1933, the first concentration camp at Dachau was established specifically to detain political opponents—Communists, Social Democrats, and union leaders. While Trump hasn't built camps, his administration's framing of dissent as national security threats establishes the rhetorical foundation for further suppression.
The administration's continued attacks on media as "enemy of the people" draws directly from Nazi terminology. Hitler routinely labeled Jews, Communists, and other enemies as "Volksfeinde" (enemies of the people), justifying their persecution. This language doesn't just damage democratic discourse—it creates the preconditions for authoritarian control.
Press Exclusion and Information Control
NBC News reported that
"White House staff have systematically excluded reporters from multiple outlets labeled 'unfriendly' by Trump's communications team, creating an unprecedented information blackout."
As one veteran journalist put it,
"We've covered administrations for decades, but this level of press restriction mirrors authoritarian regimes, not American democracy."
The White House's systematic exclusion of press access represents a fucking blatant attempt to control information flow, directly mirroring Hitler's media takeover. Just as the Nazi regime methodically eliminated independent journalism, Trump's administration is isolating citizens from unfiltered reporting by restricting which journalists can access government officials and events.
This isn't just antagonism toward unfriendly outlets—it's a deliberate information control strategy that allows the regime to present its own narrative without challenge or scrutiny. When combined with the "enemy of the people" rhetoric, these press restrictions create an environment where truth itself becomes a political casualty.
Book Banning: Controlling History and Thought
The systematic banning of digital books under the Trump administration reveals the regime's fear of critical thinking and historical understanding. The list of banned works reads like a fucking roadmap of authoritarian warning signs:
The Diary of Anne Frank,
1984,
Animal Farm,
Brave New World,
The Handmaid's Tale,
Fahrenheit 451, and more.
This mirrors Nazi book burning campaigns where "un-German" literature was destroyed to prevent exposure to "dangerous" ideas. The deliberate targeting of books about totalitarianism, dystopian futures, and Holocaust testimony represents a chilling attempt to control historical narratives and suppress critical thinking—classic authoritarian tactics straight from Goebbels' playbook.
Musk's unauthorized Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) gaining access to government databases parallels the development of Nazi surveillance systems. The Gestapo, established in 1933, built extensive files on citizens through networks of informants and intimidation. The technology differs, but the function remains: monitoring potential opposition through extralegal means.
Sources:
The Third Reich: Politics and Propaganda by David Welch (Hitler’s propaganda)
AP News: Trump warns that arrest of Palestinian activist at Columbia will be “first of many”
The Guardian: Judge orders Elon Musk and Doge to produce records about cost-cutting operations
Erosion of Democratic Institutions: Checks and Balances in Shambles
Hitler dismantled the Weimar Republic's robust system of checks and balances with breathtaking efficiency. By March 1933, he had pressured state governments to align with Nazi leadership, replacing elected officials with Reich commissioners. By July, all political parties except the Nazis were banned. The Reichstag became a rubber stamp, meeting only 12 times between 1933 and 1939, and passing only four laws.
In a chilling echo of these historical events, recent reports indicate that masked agents are actively detaining individuals, including students, under the pretext of national security. This tactic of kidnapping and silencing dissent mirrors the early actions of the Nazi regime, where political opponents were forcibly removed from society. A video documenting the experiences of those affected will be embedded here, illustrating the terrifying reality of authoritarian overreach in our time.
When House Republicans block a vote to overturn Trump's tariffs, they're not just supporting economic policy—they're abdicating their constitutional responsibility, just as the Reichstag surrendered its powers to Hitler. Congress ceding power on tariffs effectively eliminates a crucial legislative check on executive authority.
Federal judges warning of growing threats to judicial independence echoes the Nazi transformation of Germany's courts. By 1934, Hitler had established the People's Court (Volksgerichtshof) to try political crimes, bypassing traditional courts. Regular judges who resisted Nazi directives faced forced retirements or worse.
"When judges face calls for impeachment simply for ruling against the president, we've crossed a dangerous line…This direct intimidation of the judiciary represents an existential threat to constitutional separation of powers.”
said Federal Judge Marcus Williams in a rare public statement reported by CNN. When Trump sycophants push for impeachment of judges who rule against them, they're replicating Hitler's judicial intimidation tactics.
The mass firing of over 20,000 federal employees isn't just a staffing change—it's a fucking purge reminiscent of Hitler's 1933 Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service, which removed Jews and political opponents from government positions. By replacing career civil servants with loyalists, Trump is creating an administrative apparatus that serves him rather than the American people. On Day 52, a second federal judge ordered the rehiring of probationary federal employees—the second such judicial order in a week. But let's not kid ourselves—Trump and Musk view court orders as suggestions, not mandates. The federal judiciary might as well be writing their decisions on toilet paper for all the respect this administration has shown toward the rule of law. This contempt for judicial authority mirrors Hitler's systematic undermining of legal constraints on executive power.
Sources:
Hitler’s Justice by Ingo Müller (Nazi judicial system)
CNN: Federal judges push back on calls for impeaching jurists who rule against Trump
Historical Echoes and Warnings: The 53-Day Timeline
Let's be absolutely fucking clear about the historical parallels:
Day 30 (Hitler): The Enabling Act is passed, giving Hitler dictatorial powers.
Day 30 (Trump): DOJ corruption unit gutted, shifting oversight to political appointees.
Day 42 (Hitler): Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service purges Jews and opponents from government.
Day 42 (Trump): Mass firing of 20,000 federal employees begins, with loyalists replacing career officials.
Day 51 (Hitler): All labor unions dissolved and replaced with Nazi-controlled German Labor Front.
Day 51 (Trump): Education Department gutted, USAID documents destroyed, surveillance expanded.
This isn't historical coincidence—it's a fucking blueprint being followed with precision. The central question isn't whether Trump is following Hitler's playbook—it's whether we have the courage and clarity to recognize it and act before it's too late. Democracy doesn't die in darkness; it dies when we watch it happen and do nothing.
Call to Action
History offers both warning and instruction. Germans who recognized the danger in 1933 but failed to unite against it watched their democracy collapse in 53 days. Opposition parties thought they could contain Hitler; the judiciary believed legal norms would hold; citizens assumed things would return to normal.
They were all catastrophically wrong.
This isn't just a political crisis—it's a fucking moral emergency. Document everything, just as brave Germans documented Nazi abuses. Join protests against authoritarian overreach, as the too-few resisters did in 1933. Support whistleblowers exposing corruption. Stay vigilant for court rulings, executive overreach, and attempts to rewrite the Constitution.
The battle for democracy isn't happening in some distant country or historical textbook—it's happening right fucking now, in our streets, our courts, and our communities. History will judge not just those who actively dismantle democracy, but those who stood by and watched it happen.
The question isn't whether Trump is following Hitler's playbook—it's what you're going to do to stop him before we reach Day 54.
About Me: For those who don't know me yet, I've spent every day since Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025 documenting democracy's dismantling without filters or apologies. I'm not some academic theorist—I'm an IHSS provider with a Master of Science in Human Resource Development from Villanova University and double BAs in Political Science and Speech Communications from San Francisco State University. My education gives me the analytical framework, but my rage gives me the motivation.
What drives me to write isn't money—it's a sense of urgency. What some call ADHD, I call my superpower: pattern recognition. When something doesn't add up, I can't just scroll past it like most people. I dig—deep. And right now, the patterns I'm seeing between Trump's administration and historical fascism aren't just concerning—they're terrifying to anyone who's studied authoritarian takeovers.
My ability to spot patterns that others miss has served me well. During the dot-com crash, I saw the collapse coming and helped people I care about save their savings. I'm not claiming to be a savant—I just pay attention when my gut screams that something's wrong (and yes, science confirms we have a 2nd brain in our stomach—that's not some new age bullshit).
That same instinct is screaming now about the state of our democracy. When I see corruption and bullshit being normalized, I can't stay silent. That's why I write—not for profit, but because I genuinely believe we're at a critical moment where speaking truth matters.
This Substack will always remain free. I'm not here to monetize outrage—I'm here because I believe in fighting for a democracy where money doesn't determine whose voice gets heard.
Always unfiltered, always fighting—Zorha.
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