Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, labeled Donald Trump a "fascist" during a CNN town hall on Wednesday, raising concerns about his alleged admiration for authoritarian figures. Her remarks followed media reports based on statements from Trump’s former chief of staff, John Kelly.
Asked directly whether she thought Trump was a fascist, Harris answered, “Yes, I do.” She warned that Trump, if re-elected, would govern as a dictator, using military power for personal gains.
The controversy intensified after The Atlantic published a report by Jeffrey Goldberg. The article, citing Kelly, claimed that Trump expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler during his presidency. Trump’s campaign denied the allegations and dismissed them as politically motivated attacks.
In response to Harris' statements, Trump took to X (formerly Twitter), criticizing the vice president’s rhetoric. “Comrade Kamala Harris sees that she is losing, especially after stealing the Race from Crooked Joe Biden,” Trump wrote. “She is raising her rhetoric, calling me Adolf Hitler. She is a Threat to Democracy and not fit to be President.”
Harris referred to Goldberg’s article, stating that Trump’s alleged remarks about Hitler were “deeply troubling and incredibly dangerous.” She warned that they revealed "who Donald Trump really is."
Trump’s campaign labeled the Atlantic report “fake news,” accusing Kelly of fabricating stories. Campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said, “Kelly has beclowned himself with these debunked stories.”
The Trump team also condemned Harris for spreading “outright lies,” linking her remarks to assassination attempts against the former president. "This type of rhetoric led to two assassination attempts against President Trump," the campaign wrote on X.
The Atlantic recently published another piece by Anne Applebaum, comparing Trump to Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Joseph Stalin. The Trump campaign dismissed the article, calling the publication “a third-rate media outlet.”
As the November 5 election approaches, polls show Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, losing ground. Trump and the Republicans have gained momentum, adding further intensity to the campaign rhetoric.