Confronting the Echoes of Fascism: Henry Wallace’s Warning and Trump’s America
Brian Sankarsingh gives his thoughts on what some people are calling the rise of fascism in America
...there is no unemployment in a prisoner’s camp – The Danger of American Fascism, Henry Wallace (1944)
It was 1944 and the world was reeling from the atrocities perpetrated during World War II. Henry A. Wallace who was Vice President under Franklin D. Roosevelt, penned a prophetic essay titled, "The Danger of American Fascism." Wallace was warning about what he foresaw as the rise of a subtle, distinctly American brand of fascism. Prophetically he noted that rather than marching with jackboots and authoritarian flags, this brand of fascism would be present under the guise of patriotism, corporate interests, and economic elitism. Wallace’s essay remains uncannily relevant in our modern political discourse and moreso when examining the rise of Donald Trump and the erosion of democratic norms we have witnessed in recent years.
Let me state from the outset, I do not agree with everything Wallace wrote. First it was written on the heels of WWII and that means his singular description of fascist was the infamous “Prussian Junker” himself.
I would like to explore Wallace’s insights on American fascism and through the application of his framework evaluate how elements of fascism have emerged within Trumpism. The hope is that we can expose signs and red flags that should not be ignored.
Wallace’s Definition of American Fascism
Wallace’s conception of fascism was broad, emphasizing economic and social manipulation over brute force. He defined fascists as:
“Those who, in case of conflict, put money and power ahead of human beings”
Although Wallace saw violent extremism as a part of the danger, he posited that the deliberate use of fear and misinformation to divide the population. The specific intent was to destroy democracy through the systemic erosion of democratic institutions. He warned that “The American fascist would prefer not to use violence. His method is to poison the channels of public information.”
Central to Wallace’s argument was the idea that American fascism thrives by hijacking institutions for personal and corporate gain, spreading propaganda, and turning public anxiety into tools of control. He believed that this form of fascism would promote national pride all while undermining fundamental freedoms—replacing democratic principles with a system rigged to serve elites.
Analyzing Trumpism Through Wallace’s Lens: Parallels and Responses
The political movement led by Donald Trump shares unsettling parallels with the framework Wallace described. Note that I did not say the Republican Party or the GOP. My reasoning for this is that after the GOP sold its soul to Trumpism in the pursuit of power it separated itself from its roots. What we see now is the dead or dying embers of the GOP in the conflagration of Trumpism. Much could be written about this alone but let us return to the discussion.
While Trump’s rhetoric does not always perfectly align with classical fascism, Trumpism displays several hallmarks of the American fascism that Wallace warned against. Below, I want to address some of these points and examine how Wallace’s essay can help us respond. To this point, I underscore each point with a suggestive response that we can take to counteract it.
1. Attacks on Truth and the Media
Wallace warned that the fascist manipulates public information to "sow confusion and distrust", and thus weaken the population’s ability to discern truth.
In Trump’s America, “fake news” became a battle cry, aimed at delegitimizing the press whenever coverage turned unfavorable. The phrase "alternative facts" used by U.S. Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway during a Meet the Press interview on January 22, 2017, in which she defended White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer's false statement about the attendance numbers of Donald Trump's inauguration as President of the United States. Trump has continued to vilify mainstream media but has also repeatedly and unabashedly spread misinformation on social media platforms. He thrives on fostering an environment for the profligation of conspiracy theories. This erosion of truth creates fertile ground for authoritarianism by undermining civic discourse and leaving citizens disoriented. For his MAGA Loyalists Trump has made himself the source of all truth. A source that negates the ability of the media, the judiciary, any branch of government or law enforcement to “tell the truth!”
Response:
A commitment to independent journalism and media literacy is essential to counteract these tactics. Citizens must learn how to critically engage with information and demand transparency from political leaders. Additionally, fact-checking efforts and educational campaigns about media manipulation are vital to safeguard democracy. Furthermore, the Executive and Judicial branches of the government must take a law-informed, fact-based approach to governance. Both parties must commit themselves to adhere to the basic principles of science and truth. For example, the earth is round and having a person in leadership say that they believe otherwise is disingenuous, manipulative and misleading.
2. Fearmongering and Divisive Nationalism
Wallace identified the use of fear as a tool to divide populations, particularly along racial and ideological lines. In Trump’s rhetoric, immigrants, minorities, and political opponents are consistently portrayed as existential threats. For example, Trump’s insistence that immigrants were consuming people's cats and dogs was meant to dehumanize the people such that they were less than animals.
MAGA’s border wall chants or Trump’s Muslim travel ban are other examples of “othering” people. At the end of the day, Trump’s strategy consistently exploited fear to rally support, blaming outsiders for domestic problems. His rhetoric also embraced a kind of hyper-nationalism that promotes “America First” policies, framing international cooperation as a betrayal of the nation’s interests.
Response:
To resist these tactics, we must encourage people to embrace diversity and reject scapegoating. Civic and community leaders and activists should promote inclusive narratives that highlight common values rather than amplify division. We must demand that policies should focus on addressing the root causes of social inequality rather than fueling fear of the “other.” The following are some of the ways to promote diversity and address nationalistic tendencies. I recognize that this is not an exhaustive list and that a lot of this is already being done. Nevertheless, given all that is happening in the United States right now, it indicates that more must be done.
1. Teach Critical History: Include the negative impacts of nationalism (e.g., colonialism, wars, ethnic violence, genocide) alongside narratives of national achievements. Not bringing history to life for children and adults alike means they will fail to recognize the signs that usually accompanies fascists, dictators, and oppressors.
2. Embrace Global Education: Incorporate topics like global interdependence, migration, climate change, and human rights to foster an understanding of shared challenges. A strong focus on nationalism in the classroom puts blinders on the next generation. They lose the context of their place in the world.
3. Media Literacy Training: We have known for a long time that the media is used to manipulate people. Now however, with the proliferation of social media this has become manipulation on steroids. Helping people critically evaluate nationalist propaganda, misinformation, and divisive media messaging is more important now than ever.
4. Promote Language Learning and celebrate diverse traditions: Knowing multiple languages breaks cultural barriers and reduces ethnocentrism. Highlighting and honoring diasporic cultures, indigenous communities, and international collaborations within a country challenges the nationalistic worldview.
5. Focus on Community-based Solutions: Promote local grassroots organizations that tackle social issues collaboratively, reducing the need for people to rely on nationalist narratives.
6. Promote Inclusive National Identities: The “American” national identity was initially kindled in the morass of enslavement, subsequently forged in the aftermath of Civil War, and refined in the chaos of the Civil Rights movement. During those times it was framed in racial superiority and religious elitism. This needs to change. Patriotism should be reoriented around values such as human rights, democracy, and cooperation rather than ethnic or cultural superiority.
7. Call Out Polarizing Rhetoric: In the past few years we have witnessed a rise in speech meant to separate, hurt, or divide communities and people. This is teaching us that it is not enough to simply fact check when politicians, media and media personalities make false claims. They must be held accountable for fearmongering or nationalist populism.
8. Strengthen Institutions: Build robust independent and democratic systems that protect minority rights and resist authoritarian tendencies linked with nationalism. This does not mean that these institutions do not have governance oversight, it may just mean the process of accountability might be different.
9. Address Economic Grievances: Nationalism often grows when economic insecurity rises. Policies that reduce inequality and support vulnerable groups can reduce reliance on nationalist ideologies. This may mean ignoring the selfish demands of the filthy rich and influential lobbies that are more than willing to throw free money at those in power.
10. Deconstruct National Myths: Finally, and perhaps fittingly, use art, poetry, and media to question rigid national narratives and offer alternatives rooted in shared humanity i.e., not just an American-only identity.
11. Promote Intersectional Identities: Encourage people to see themselves as belonging to multiple identities (e.g., a global citizen, a community member, and a national citizen). As I write this, the imagery, and lyrics of the song God Bless America by Lee Greenwood come to mind. Listening to the words of this song and watching what is currently happening south of the Canadian border, is anyone surprised by the outcome?
3. Corporate Influence and Economic Elitism
Wallace warned that American fascists seek to concentrate wealth and power, using their influence to control political institutions. The alliance between corporate interests and political elites is a hallmark of the threat he described.
Response:
Wallace’s essay reminds us that economic fairness is a cornerstone of democracy. Structural reforms, such as campaign finance reform and antitrust regulations, are necessary to curb the influence of wealth on politics. Additionally, the separation of church and state is now demonstrably of utmost importance. Policies should prioritize the well-being of the working class and marginalized communities rather than serving corporate interests.
4. Erosion of Democratic Norms and Institutions
A core feature of fascism, according to Wallace, is the deliberate weakening of democratic institutions. Trump’s presidency saw repeated attempts to undermine the judiciary, electoral processes, and the rule of law. His refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election and encouragement of the January 6th Capitol attack reflected a blatant assault on democracy. Now in the present election cycle, even his vice-presidential pick publicly stated that Trump did not lose the 2020 election.
Response:
The defense of democracy requires vigilance and accountability. Legal action against those who undermine the electoral process, as well as efforts to strengthen voting rights and protect democratic institutions, are crucial. Civic participation—through voting, protest, and public advocacy—is essential to prevent further erosion. This means you! Every vote counts. I can personally attest to this. My son decided to run for Student Council president; during his campaign many students – including his friends - liked his ideas and indicated they would be voting for him. There were two other students running in the election. On election day the turnout was extremely low, and my son lost by one vote. The results showed this:
Winner – 3 votes
My son – 2 votes
Other student – 1 vote
After the election he asked his friends why they did not vote for him. Their response was that they saw so many other people supporting him that they knew he would win and did not think they needed to vote.
A hard lesson – but one we all need to learn.
5. Wallace’s Call to Action
Henry Wallace’s essay reminds us that fascism is not always loud, obvious and violent. It often arrives subtly, disguised as patriotism or economic reform, only to corrode the foundations of democracy from within. The rise of Trumpism demonstrates that the dangers Wallace warned about are not relics of the past but persistent threats in our time. When Trump states out loud that he wishes he had military generals like that “Prussian Junker” we should worry. When Trump’s former and longest serving chief of staff Gen. John Kelly expresses concerns that the former president met the definition of a fascist we should worry.
However, Wallace’s message is ultimately one of hope and responsibility. He believed that the American people, when informed and united, have the power to resist fascism in all its forms. His essay encourages us to:
Fight misinformation with education and truth.
Reject divisive nationalism by fostering intersectionality, unity and compassion.
Curb corporate influence and advocate for economic justice.
Defend democracy by holding leaders accountable and actively participating in civic life.
In confronting Trumpism and the echoes of American fascism, we must heed Wallace’s words and remain steadfast in our commitment to truth, justice, and democracy. The future of democracy depends not only on resisting authoritarianism but on building a society grounded in fairness, inclusion, and transparency.
The task is ours—and our time is now.
Bio: BRIAN SANKARSINGH is a Trinidadian-born Canadian immigrant who has published several books of poetry on a wide range of social and historical themes including racism, colonialism, and enslavement. Sankarsingh artfully blends prose and poetry into his storytelling creating an eclectic mix with both genres. This unique approach is sure to provide something for everyone.
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