Since Donald Trump swept the American presidential election last year, his series of executive orders—such as increasing tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico and declaring a national emergency along America’s southern border—along with his numerous racist, xenophobic, and transphobic statements, have sent shockwaves across the world. Trump’s rise has sparked significant debate among progressives regarding whether the current political developments in the United States can be classified as fascism. A clear understanding of the distinctions between various forms of bourgeois reaction is crucial—not just for theoretical clarity but for developing an effective strategy to counter them. With this in mind, the Mumbai unit of Naujawan Bharat Sabha (NBS) organized a discussion to critically analyze Trump’s resurgence and its implications. To determine whether Trump can be classified as a fascist, we must examine whether the essential characteristics of fascism are present in the Trump phenomenon in America. While he enjoys considerable support from a section of the American public, there is no organized reactionary movement of the petty bourgeoisie backing him. Instead, his support largely stems from spontaneous reactionary sentiment, driven by the absence of a viable revolutionary alternative and the deepening economic crisis, rather than by an organized fascist movement. Furthermore, there is no cadre-based fascist organization armed with a systematic fascist ideology supporting Trump. He represents the most right-wing faction of the Republican Party, which remains a conservative bourgeois party rather than a cadre-based fascist entity. Similarly, while Trump’s rhetoric incorporates extreme right-wing ideas, his ideology cannot be classified as fascist. His call to “make America great again” reflects the chauvinistic frustrations of the American ruling class over the United States’ declining global dominance as an imperialist power.
However, he does not systematically construct a purely ideological community or fabricate an imaginary enemy in the manner characteristic of fascist ideology.
For these reasons, labeling Trump as a fascist does not accurately capture the nature of this phenomenon. While it is possible that, in the future, a movement could emerge that is genuinely fascist—led by a cadre-based organization with a systematic fascist ideology—it would be incorrect to characterize Trump or his movement as fascist at this stage.
Naujawan Bharat Sabha (Mumbai) regularly organizes discussion circles at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Library in Mankhurd, fostering open dialogue and debate on pressing issues relevant to the youth.
To join or volunteer in NBS activities, contact: 7667230795
