Yesterday, Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani met face-to-face in the Oval Office of the White House. This was characterized by many as a timeless contrast of the fascist and the communist.
Fascism is a far-right authoritarian political ideology characterized by dictatorial leadership (concentrated power in a single leader or party), forcible suppression of opposition (elimination of political pluralism and dissent), extreme nationalism (often with racial or ethnic superiority themes), militarism (glorification of military strength and values), centralized autocratic government (rejection of democracy and individual liberties), and strict regimentation of society and the economy (subordination of individual interests to the state). Fascist regimes typically use propaganda, mass mobilization, and violence to maintain control while promising national renewal and the restoration of a mythologized past greatness. As extreme as that all seems, doesn’t it sound currently familiar…in literally every way?
Donald Trump’s key policy positions are very clear. On immigration, its about mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, completing the border wall (Laredo is having fun with that right now), ending birthright citizenship, restricting legal immigration, and travel bans from certain countries. On the economy, its about tax cuts, tax cuts and more tax cuts (especially for corporations and wealthy), but also, deregulation across industries, tariffs on imports (especially from China) to pay for the tax cuts, “America First” trade policy to keep his base happy, and reducing government spending (except military). Foreign policy is focused on being skeptical of international alliances (NATO, UN), a transactional approach to foreign relations, A tough stance on China with an accommodative stance on Russia, isolationist tendencies/“end endless wars” (expect when he wants to distract…like in Venezuela), strong support for Israel (until the Qataris, Saudis or Emirates object), and unpredictable diplomacy to give him personal relationships with leaders. On law and order, the rhetoric emphasizes crime control, support for police, opposition to “defund” movements, harsh sentencing, tough-on-crime approach (unless they are his supporters…or himself) and portraying Democratic cities as crime-ridden. On broader cultural issues there’s his opposition to “woke” ideology and DEI programs, desire to restrict transgender rights, especially for minors, emphasis on traditional gender roles, all with an overlay of Christian nationalism elements, opposition to “critical race theory”, and an anti-abortion stance (though his position has shifted back and forth). He wants expanded presidential power (at least for himself), to purge civil service of perceived opponents, prosecute political enemies, attacking the “deep state” and administrative agencies…and most importantly… total loyalty to him personally as a key criterion and despite proving to always be disloyal to others. There’s also his energy policies and election integrity issues, but what he emphasizes consistently is strength and dominance, winning and making deals, his own unique self-perceived capabilities, grievances against perceived unfair treatment, and at the heart of his MAGA ideology…restoration of a (vaguely defined) better past.
Communism is a far-left political and economic ideology characterized by collective ownership (abolition of private property; means of production owned collectively or by the state), classless society (elimination of social classes and economic inequality), centralized planning (state control of the economy rather than free markets), “From each according to ability, to each according to need” (distribution based on need rather than market forces), single-party rule (in practice, typically governed by a communist party with no political pluralism), and revolutionary change (often advocating overthrow of capitalist systems).
Zohran Mamdani’s key policy positions as also well developed and expressed. He starts with housing in a very Maslowian way and wants a major expansion of public housing (advocates for building 250,000+ units of social housing), universal rent control (“The Rent’s Too Damn High!”), “Good Cause Eviction” protections statewide and an opposition to real estate developer influence in politics. Healthcare is next in line with single-payer healthcare/Medicare for All, a New York Health Act (state-level universal healthcare), and, generally, healthcare as a human right, not tied to employment. His economic policy involves tax increases on wealthy individuals and corporations, support for unions and collective bargaining, worker cooperatives and democratic ownership models and an overall opposition to corporate subsidies and tax breaks. In terms of the climate/environment, he favors a Green New Deal for New York, transition away from fossil fuels, public ownership of utilities (writ large) and environmental justice for working-class communities. As for criminal justice, he opposes increases in police funding, supports alternatives to incarceration, wants reform of the bail and parole systems and full accountability for police misconduct. Education is a priority with fully funded public schools, free CUNY/SUNY tuition, and cancelling student debt. On immigration he opposes ICE cooperation, favors sanctuary protections and pathways to citizenship. Mamdani frames issues through a class lens , viewing problems as stemming from wealth inequality and corporate power. He emphasizes building working-class political power through organizing rather than just electoral politics. He has a grassroots organizing focus and political style that rejects corporate campaign donations and often challenges Democratic Party establishment.
Trump is called a fascist (and doesn’t seem to mind it) because he is one, with the argument that you can point to several elements that are entirely about fascist characteristics. There’s the authoritarian rhetoric and behavior (expressions of admiration for authoritarian leaders like Putin, Xi, and Orbán), direct statements about being a “dictator on day one” or wanting generals like Hitler’s, attacks on democratic institutions, including refusing to accept the 2020 election results, pressuring officials to overturn election results…and, of course, the January 6th Capitol events. He’s all about nationalist messaging with “America First” ideology with strong emphasis on national greatness and anti-immigrant rhetoric portraying outsiders as threats or “poisoning the blood” of the country. The strongman persona is what he idolizes with a cult of personality around a single leader (mostly him) and the dismissal of expertise and institutions in favor of personal authority. If your definition of fascist is not just about historical movements, then Trump fits the bill perfectly.
By contrast, Zohran Mamdani, though a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and a self-identified Democratic Socialist, is a long way from being a communist. The DSA advocates for democratic socialism, which critics often conflate with communism and he did run explicitly on a socialist platform, but when you look at his policy positions you get a more nuanced view. He is a strong advocate for universal healthcare/Medicare for All and supports a significant expansion of public housing and rent control. He advocates for worker ownership and cooperatives and calls for a major redistribution of wealth through taxation. He also supports Green New Deal-type proposals. He even critiques capitalism openly, but less philosophically and more based on how it is being applied. His class-based political language frames issues in terms of workers versus capitalists, so its understandable that people jump to the communist conclusion. But he specifically identifies as a democratic socialist, not a communist and democratic socialism advocates for social ownership within democratic systems, not Soviet-style authoritarianism. He also supports working within electoral democracy rather than revolutionary change and that makes him far less communist than American in his thinking. Critics love to blur the lines between social democracy, democratic socialism, and communism. Mamdani advocates for democratic control of the economy and major expansion of public ownership, which is further left than most Democrats but distinct from Marxist-Leninist communism.
Some might even say that democratic socialism and populism are closer than people think, with the biggest distinction being that democratic socialism is quite specific about what it advocates for economic and societal change while populism remains vague and intentially unclear other than as a vehicle to whip up the electorate for a charismatic politician…oh, say, like Trump. Both approaches can lead to single-party states with extensive government control over society, but social democracy at least starts out being about serving the people where populism is a blatant attempt to exploit the people for political gain. Both have and can lead to suppression of dissent, and elimination of political opposition, but at least democratic socialism embraces equality where populism as a pretense for fascism rejects equality. Some argue the far-left and far-right “meet” in their authoritarianism (horseshoe theory). Others insist the ideological differences are fundamental and that conflating them obscures important distinctions.
So, a fascist/populist and a communist democratic socialist walk into an Oval Office together. They both make nice for their own reasons. The fascist/populist is losing his grip on his electoral base and political allies (mostly due to ignoring or denigrating them). The democratic socialist needs to keep the fascist/populist from making his new and as yet untested administration impossible to get off the ground. They serve each other’s purposes handsomely. One is dark, young and handsome, the other orange, old and squidgy. One is well-spoken and courtly, the other is crass and ill-mannered. The contrast and implications would be hard for anyone to miss…out with the old and in with the new.