Applying the label of "fascist" to Trump is not a casual accusation. It is a descriptor that carries the weight of history, a term that evokes images of oppression, authoritarianism, and the suppression of dissent. And in this context, it is an accurate assessment of the man and not hyperbole.
By Fareed Khan
February 15th marks the 60th anniversary of Canada's iconic maple leaf flag. It’s a day to celebrate the values that it represents – diversity, inclusivity, equity, pluralism and compassion. Yet, as Canadians gather to commemorate this milestone, a chilling reality casts a long shadow over the "Great White North". The threat of Donald Trump, a "malignant, narcissistic sociopath" whose rhetoric and actions since being sworn in as US president for the second time, echoes the darkest chapters of modern history, one where fascism was ascendant, and one which demands resolute action.
Trump's increasingly hostile posture towards Canada since being re-elected has alarmed and angered Canadians from coast to coast. His threats to wreck this country’s economy with punishing tariffs and annex Canada as the “51st state” represent a direct assault on this nation’s existence as a free and sovereign nation and all that it represents.
Since being sworn in only a few weeks ago, his presidency has been punctuated by a constant stream of inflammatory pronouncements and policies, and is a masterclass in demagoguery and divisiveness. His executive orders targeting migrants, refugees, the LGBTQ2 community, women, Muslims, and countless other vulnerable minorities in the US are also threats to those communities in Canada with Trump’s unofficial declaration of war on this country and its people. The barrage of hate, misogyny, transphobia, and xenophobia that has emanated from the Oval Office, along with his ultimatums and decrees to Canada and other nations, are the actions of someone who wants to be a tyrant and cares little about the norms of diplomacy and international relations.
Applying the label of "fascist" to Trump is not a casual accusation. It is a descriptor that carries the weight of history, a term that evokes images of oppression, authoritarianism, and the suppression of dissent. And in this context, it is an accurate assessment of the man and not hyperbole. Eleven former high-ranking officials from Trump's first administration, including his longest-serving chief of staff and the former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have publicly acknowledged the alarming reality that Trump is a fascist. Their insider perspectives paint a picture of a man driven by a lust for power, contempt for democratic norms, and a willingness to use the powers of the presidency to violate treaties, laws and fundamental rights in pursuit of his personal and political agenda.
To millions of Canadian immigrants Trump’s threats against Canada are a threat to their homes, their livelihoods and their families. They or their parents chose Canada by design, choosing to be Canadian not American, seeking better lives for themselves and their children, and refuge from the very ideologies Trump embodies. To them, and indeed to all patriotic Canadians, Trump's threats are not just political manoeuvring, they are a direct assault on Canada's sovereignty, freedom and independence.
Trump's repeated and increasingly ominous musings about annexing Canada are not the bluster of a sane politician. They are, rather, a window into the mind of a man whose sociopathic tendencies were laid bare for all to see in the 2017 book "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump". It offered a chilling diagnosis of the most powerful politician in the world. Twenty-seven psychiatrists and mental health professionals, using their expertise, concluded that Trump poses a grave threat not just to the United States but to the entire world. They described him as impulsive, immature, and incompetent, prone to sliding into the role of a tyrant when wielding ultimate power. They characterized his sociopathic characteristics as undeniable, his malignant narcissism as profound, and warned that his unchecked behaviour could lead to devastating global consequences, including World War III.
Since being sworn in only a few weeks ago, his presidency has been punctuated by a constant stream of inflammatory pronouncements and policies, and is a masterclass in demagoguery and divisiveness. His executive orders targeting migrants, refugees, the LGBTQ2 community, women, Muslims, and countless other vulnerable minorities in the US are also threats to those communities in Canada with Trump’s unofficial declaration of war on this country and its people. The barrage of hate, misogyny, transphobia, and xenophobia that has emanated from the Oval Office, along with his ultimatums and decrees to Canada and other nations, are the actions of someone who wants to be a tyrant and cares little about the norms of diplomacy and international relations.
Applying the label of "fascist" to Trump is not a casual accusation. It is a descriptor that carries the weight of history, a term that evokes images of oppression, authoritarianism, and the suppression of dissent. And in this context, it is an accurate assessment of the man and not hyperbole. Eleven former high-ranking officials from Trump's first administration, including his longest-serving chief of staff and the former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have publicly acknowledged the alarming reality that Trump is a fascist. Their insider perspectives paint a picture of a man driven by a lust for power, contempt for democratic norms, and a willingness to use the powers of the presidency to violate treaties, laws and fundamental rights in pursuit of his personal and political agenda.
To millions of Canadian immigrants Trump’s threats against Canada are a threat to their homes, their livelihoods and their families. They or their parents chose Canada by design, choosing to be Canadian not American, seeking better lives for themselves and their children, and refuge from the very ideologies Trump embodies. To them, and indeed to all patriotic Canadians, Trump's threats are not just political manoeuvring, they are a direct assault on Canada's sovereignty, freedom and independence.
Trump's repeated and increasingly ominous musings about annexing Canada are not the bluster of a sane politician. They are, rather, a window into the mind of a man whose sociopathic tendencies were laid bare for all to see in the 2017 book "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump". It offered a chilling diagnosis of the most powerful politician in the world. Twenty-seven psychiatrists and mental health professionals, using their expertise, concluded that Trump poses a grave threat not just to the United States but to the entire world. They described him as impulsive, immature, and incompetent, prone to sliding into the role of a tyrant when wielding ultimate power. They characterized his sociopathic characteristics as undeniable, his malignant narcissism as profound, and warned that his unchecked behaviour could lead to devastating global consequences, including World War III.
Trump is not a man with whom Canada can engage in a conventional diplomatic dance like it would with a normal national leader. He is a man who, through his words and actions, has declared himself an enemy to Canada with his tariff threats and musings about absorbing Canada into the US as the the 51st state. So to this nation's political leaders the message is clear, we must treat Trump as the existential threat that he is and prepare to defend our nation with all means available.
Canada's news media also have a critical role to play in the battle for the body and soul of this country. It is time for journalists and media executives to use the same frank language to talk about Trump that those with the most intimate knowledge about him have used. The media must tell the whole story of the fascist sociopath occupying the Oval Office, and must stop couching the threat that he is in polite language. They must convey the very real danger that we all face, and awaken the Canadian public to the peril that is upon us.
During World War II, over 45,000 Canadian soldiers, sailors, and airmen sacrificed their lives to defend this nation from a fascist threat. Millions more from allied nations also paid the ultimate price, and their courage and sacrifice preserved Canada's freedom. But freedom is never a permanent state. It is a constant struggle, that requires vigilance and the willingness to confront evil where it appears and defend what is right. To honor their legacy, we must stand firm against the resurgence of the hateful ideology of fascism embodied in Donald Trump, and refuse to let the very costly lessons of history be forgotten.
This 60th anniversary of Canada's maple leaf flag demands more than a simple celebration and patriotic flag waving. It must be a moment for sober reflection, for unity, and for action in defence of this nation and its people. Every Canadian who loves this country, who believes in the principles of justice and equality, who is committed to the vision of the just society that former prime minister Pierre Trudeau articulated over 50 years ago, must rise to this challenge. We must stand together, shoulder to shoulder against Donald Trump, and defend our flag, our country, and our sovereignty against this fascist, racist, misogynistic, and transphobic demagogue who seeks to destroy our nation.
The time for decisive action to counter Trump's threats against Canada is now if Canadians want the red and white maple leaf to fly over a sovereign Canada for generations to come. To borrow from the national anthem, “O Canada. We stand on guard for thee”.
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