The early general elections, the midterm elections in the United States came as a surprise to many, but also a confirmation of a common history shared by fascists and populists. The surprise was that, contrary to what was expected of an absolute victory for Republican Trumpism, President Joe Biden’s Democrats managed to maintain their majority in the Senate and won essential governances and legislatures to maintain legality in the 2024 presidential elections. One of the historical trends is that lies and propaganda have an expiration date. Specifically, most of Donald Trump’s handpicked candidates, who were characterized by their denial of Biden’s 2020 victory, were defeated. The two things, surprise and confirmation, are related.
As in Brazil, the campaign dominated by lies and disinformation was rejected by the majority of citizens. As in that country, in the US the reality of a democracy threatened by extremists was decisive in convincing voters who, in many cases, are not necessarily close to the winners in economic or social terms, but share with them the need to defend democracy.
In the cases of the big losers of this decade, Trump and Jair Bolsonaro, the lesson is clear. When populists are in power, it is more difficult to impose lies over time. The catastrophic reality of their actions such as denial of COVID-19 and vaccines, including coups d’état or the threat of carrying them out, mafia acts and conspiracy theories fueled by racism, hatred of difference and xenophobia, denies the mistakes and eventually makes them more evident.
The history of fascist lies confirms the same situation. The dictators Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini lied about enemies and wars, exterminations, genocides and imperialism, to the point that total defeat exposed them as naked emperors who destroyed their countries and were abandoned by most of their followers.
Different is the case of liars in the opposition who do not have to distort the reality of their actions, but only do so in relation to those in government. The worrying triumph of Giorgia Meloni in Italy, the worrying results of far-right populists in Sweden or the continuous attempts to distort reality by trumpists in Argentina or Chile are examples of the latter situation.
In the US, although Trump’s Republicans are no longer in power, the memory of Trumpism is very fresh and consolidated. Trump’s constant presence in the country’s politics and the anti-abortion decisions of a far-right court consolidated by Trump were realities too evident to ignore or distort outright.
Although the Republicans retained a majority in the House of Representatives and the extremist Ron DeSantis, a former Trump disciple and possible challenger, wins the governorship of Florida, we can generally speak of a defeat for Trumpism and its propaganda. It is therefore worth considering some lessons from this defeat of the projects of aspiring fascists like Trump and Bolsonaro.
First, fascist lies and fascist propaganda can be stopped and defeated with real information about the crisis and death these leaders generate. In the long run, reality trumps would-be fascists. In addition, legal institutions and independent courts are key to stopping slow-motion coups d’état, as happened in Brazil with attempted vote suppression through police blockades of many main roads and, as noted, in the case of government officials Republicans in Arizona, who enforced the legality of the elections.
Another lesson is that voters should vote. The US gives us the hope of young generations coming out to defend democracy through the vote. Without them, Trumpism would have won. Furthermore, broad centre/left/right coalitions must be created and supported to confront those who want to destroy democracy. In short, the history of the anti-fascist coalitions that defeated fascism must be remembered. This is what represented the candidacy of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brazil and the democratic victory in the USA.
Authoritarian leaders must be prosecuted for their illegal acts, as happened in Argentina in 1985 with dictatorship leaders. On this point, there is still much to be done both in Brazil and in the USA.
It is also important to reach out, through the independent media, to those who want to leave behind their identification with the messianic leader cult. We must be careful to constantly defend democracy, as these victories are battles in a long-term dispute. Understanding that anti-democratic actors without legal scruples are still out there and that we cannot let our guard down in the face of the totalitarian challenge they represent is vitally important. Trumpism and its global subjects are here to stay.
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
