Trump calls Harris a fascist, says he is ‘the opposite of a Nazi’

Former President Donald Trump took center stage in Georgia on Monday, asserting he is “the opposite of a Nazi” in response to comparisons drawn between his recent rally at Madison Square Garden and a notorious 1939 pro-Nazi gathering at the same venue.

During the rally, Trump aimed to rally his supporters by claiming that Vice President Kamala Harris had labeled those voting for him as Nazis—a statement that she has not actually made. “The newest line from Kamala and her campaign is that anyone who isn’t voting for her is a Nazi,” he claimed, stoking the fire of political division among his base.

This outburst comes in light of a recent report by The Atlantic, which revealed that Trump had expressed admiration for the loyalty of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi generals during his presidency. Retired Marine General John Kelly, who served as Trump’s chief of staff, corroborated these claims by stating that Trump fits the definition of a fascist. Harris addressed these allegations during a CNN town hall, asserting her belief that Trump embodies fascist tendencies and suggesting that those who know him best should be trusted on this matter.

Responding to Harris’s remarks, Trump said in Georgia, “My father used to always say: ‘Never use the word Nazi. Never use that word.’” He expressed frustration over the frequent use of such charged terms by Democrats, asserting, “I’m not a Nazi. I’m the opposite of a Nazi.”

Trump didn’t stop there; he also countered Harris’s fascism label by labeling her a fascist instead. This exchange came despite bipartisan criticism from Republican leaders like House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who condemned Harris’s choice of words as “reckless” and warned it could incite violence.

The backdrop to these comments is Trump’s recent rally, where an opening comedian made controversial remarks about Puerto Rico, which drew significant backlash from various communities, including a rapidly growing Latino demographic in Pennsylvania.

In response to the rally’s incendiary atmosphere, Harris remarked that such rhetoric is typical of Trump, emphasizing, “It is just more of the same, and maybe more vivid than usual.” She accused Trump of creating division and hate among Americans, stating, “He spends full time trying to have Americans point their finger at each other. He fans the fuel of hate and division, and that’s why people are exhausted with him.”

While Harris has not directly labeled Trump or his supporters as Nazis, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, her running mate, drew a parallel between Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally and the infamous 1939 gathering of Nazi sympathizers. He remarked, “And don’t think that he doesn’t know for one second exactly what they’re doing there.”

Trump’s allies, including Ohio Senator JD Vance, defended him against these comparisons. Vance criticized the accusation of equating their rally to Nazi gatherings, arguing, “They decided to compare us to literal Nazis for gathering in Madison Square Garden and celebrating the United States of America.” He framed the criticism as part of a broader campaign to delegitimize their political efforts.

At another campaign event, Vance further elaborated on the values of American soldiers who fought in World War II, insisting that their sacrifices were not in support of the policies Harris endorses. “If you think those brave men were fighting for an open border and sex change surgeries for illegal aliens,” he said, “the proper term for you is ‘dipsh*t.’”

The political landscape is growing increasingly charged as both sides exchange barbs in the lead-up to the election. With Trump and his supporters framing the discourse as a battle against perceived elitism and hostility from the left, the rhetoric is expected to intensify in the coming weeks as they prepare for the critical electoral contests ahead.