The Economist explains

Is Kamala Harris right to call Donald Trump a fascist?

The f-word helps explain him, but may not help beat him

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump looking serious.
Photograph: Getty Images

ON OCTOBER 23RD Kamala Harris said that she considers Donald Trump to be a fascist. John Kelly, Mr Trump’s former chief of staff, recently said his old boss “falls into the general definition of fascist”. Mark Milley, a retired general who headed the joint chiefs of staff under Mr Trump, is quoted in a new book calling Mr Trump “fascist to the core”. All this has reignited a debate that began during Mr Trump’s run for president in 2016: is he a fascist? What does the term mean, and does applying it to Mr Trump help to explain the dangers he poses?

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