Donald Trump shared an ad on Truth Social promoting “The Creation of a Unified Reich.” The expression wasn’t lost somewhere deep in the text—it was in the first subtitle of an ad about “What’s Next For America.”
I’d be the first to say that sharing something on social media doesn’t usually reflect the exact views of the person sharing it. Maybe they liked the title or didn’t read the content. Reading has never been one of Trump’s spiritual gifts, so that might be believable.
The excuse used to deny Trump’s involvement was that some junior staffer posted something they saw online without reading the subtitle. Trump has long maintained that only he and aide Dan Scavino can access Trump’s account. Everything posted could be presumed to represent Trump’s views as long as Scavino continues to work there. The “Unified Reich” post has been removed, but Scavino remains.
So what is a Unified Reich, and why does the use of this term have meaning? Of the two words, unified is relatively straightforward, meaning together or as one. Reich has but one true meaning. We are most familiar with the Third Reich, describing the Nazi regime from January 1933 to May 1945. There was previously a Second Reich describing the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. The First Reich began in 800 but is generally considered to have existed between 962 and 1806. The First Reich is most often referred to as the Holy Roman Empire. Boundaries were more fluid then, and Germany controlled what we now consider Italy. Each Reich was about consolidation and power. Nationalism and white supremacy highlighted the most recent Reich. There has long been a fear we would one day see a Fourth Reich. Donald Trump promises to make it so.
This recent video ad isn’t Trump’s first foray into white supremacy. He defended the Neo-Nazis and skinheads at the deadly Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally, classifying them as “very fine people.” He’s advocated an immigration policy favoring Europeans and banning Muslims. He wondered why we’re accepting people from “shithole countries” like African nations and Haiti.
His administration was littered with people who would have been readily accepted in the Third Reich. Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller come to mind. Bannon was quoted saying if you’re called a racist, you should wear it like a badge of honor.
Trump’s “United Reich” is about more than racism; it’s also about the abuse of power. Some think he was joking when he claimed he would be a dictator on some issues from Day 1. Trump has longed for a military parade like those of North Korea, Russia, and China, where he could preside over tanks and missiles. His plans for a 2019 parade were sharply reduced because the Capitol’s roads weren’t meant for tanks.
“I am your warrior, I am your justice” — Donald Trump
Trump has promised retribution against his enemies, perceived and real, should he win the Presidential Election in 2024. His supporters will say he was joking. Add this to the long list of things he said out loud but couldn’t possibly mean. He isn’t planning to turn America into the Fourth Reich. Even if he was, there are checks and balances. If Trump gets elected and there are enough votes to keep the House and win the Senate. Have you seen any evidence either Congress or this Supreme Court is willing to stand in his way? Think about it!
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This post was previously published on The Polis.
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