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Is this what you voted for?
By Bonnie Kittle and Hollis Berendt In October 2025, prior to the presidential election, we published an editorial warning readers about the unsettling parallels between Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler. At the time, we wondered if we might be accused of exaggeration. However, four weeks into President Trump’s second term, the evidence is undeniable. For those who rely solely on Fox, an admitted entertainment station, you may be unaware that a coup is underway and that our democracy is being replaced by a fascist government. Before presenting the verifiable evidence, let’s define key terms. A coup is the sudden, unlawful seizure of power from a government. Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian ideology, marked by a dictatorial leader and the forcible suppression of opposition. The Republican Party controls the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the White House, and some would argue, the Supreme Court. If Trump were working within the boundaries of our democracy, he would pass laws to make the changes he wants. Instead, he is operating outside the law to impose his will. This is the behavior of a dictator — ignoring the law and bypassing the democratic process. An example is Trump’s executive order to revoke universal birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed in the Constitution. Does this sound like the actions of a leader committed to democracy? Twenty-two states are suing to challenge its legality. Moreover, Trump’s efforts to empower Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to invade houses of worship to track and deport undocumented immigrants mirror fascist tactics. Hitler blamed Jews for Germany’s problems. Trump blames immigrants, especially Latinos, as the root cause of crime in America. The data show that Latinos are less likely to commit violent crimes than other groups (look it up). Locally, here in Greeley, we depend on immigrant labor to keep our meat-packing industry running. Trump has also targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, accusing DEI for tragedies like the recent airplane and helicopter crash. DEI initiatives aim to promote fairness and equal access for all Americans, especially those previously ignored due to race or gender. By undermining these policies, Trump is sowing fear among minority groups and fostering division — just as Hitler did to maintain control. Another troubling aspect of Trump’s presidency is his attempt to replace thousands of non-partisan federal employees with people who pledge loyalty to the president, not the Constitution. He has disabled critical government agencies, fired inspectors general (including those he appointed himself), and removed government overseers tasked with rooting out corruption and fraud. Why is he doing this? Instead of using his legal powers, Trump has allowed Elon Musk, an immigrant born in South Africa with no government oversight or security clearance, to access sensitive information and alter key government programs, including spending, foreign aid, taxation, and education. In our democracy, it is Congress who should make these decisions. This is a clear sign of dictatorial behavior. Did you vote for this? |