Trump's Appeal to Authoritarianism — Letters that should have been in the new york times

12.18.23

To the editor:

Matthew Schmitz argues that Donald Trump's appeal is unrelated to his authoritarian proclivities; he suggests his moderation and pragmatism are primarily at play (12.18.23, The Secret of Trump’s Appeal Isn’t Authoritarianism). This is wishful thinking rather than a reflection of reality. An August poll by CNN-SSRS showed that over 70% of Republicans do not believe President Biden won the 2020 election fairly; 37% of Independents likewise question the legitimacy of the 2020 election. This is Trump's pragmatism at play; convince the voters they have been disenfranchised to get their support. Sowing dissension, mistrust, paranoia, and hate are also perversely pragmatic and part of his authoritarian playbook.

Is Trump moderate? As the saying goes, a stopped clock is right twice a day. Is overturning Roe v Wade moderate? Or his engagement of Vladimir Putin? Or adding almost eight trillion dollars to the national debt? I believe Donald Trump's decision-making is best understood through a self-serving lens rather than than of a public servant. This makes him an erratic leader ... unpredictable and dangerous.

Ultimately, in addition to calling out authoritarianism for what it is, the underlying conditions for its appeal must be addressed. In particular, socioeconomic hardship and growing income disparity in this country have created a fertile environment for authoritarianism.

Respectfully

Larry S Sandberg