Is MAGA a Nazi movement?
The Unsettling Similarities Between MAGA and Nazi Germany
Last week in my hometown of Huntington Beach, CA, former NFL punter Chris Kluwe took the floor at a city council meeting, using his time to deliver an impassioned warning about the MAGA movement. Before his planned act of civil disobedience, he stated:
“‘MAGA’ is profoundly corrupt, unmistakably anti-democracy, and, most importantly, ‘MAGA’ is explicitly a Nazi movement. You may have replaced a swastika with a red hat, but that’s what it is.” (source)
One day later, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker made a similar comparison:
“They point to a group of people who don’t look like you and tell you to blame them for your problems. If you think I’m overreacting, consider this: it took the Nazis one month, three weeks, two days, eight hours, and 40 minutes to dismantle a constitutional republic. I just have one question—what comes next?" (source)
These statements, though bold, are not entirely unique. Many have drawn parallels between the MAGA movement and authoritarian nationalist regimes of the past, particularly Nazi Germany. But how accurate are these comparisons?
It doesn’t serve any countermovement to lean into hyperbole, so instead, let’s conduct a measured analysis of how closely the MAGA movement does—or does not—mirror the German Nazi Party of 1933.
How Closely Does MAGA Resemble the Nazi Party?
Below are ten defining characteristics of the Nazi movement and an assessment of whether MAGA aligns with them.
Extreme Nationalism
Nazi Germany:
Belief in Aryan superiority
Rejection of diversity and multiculturalism
Calls for national rebirth and dominance
MAGA MATCH? ✅ Yes.
Why? The "America First" doctrine promotes national sovereignty over global cooperation, often at the expense of multilateral alliances. Both Elon Musk and Donald Trump have made "blood purity" remarks, and MAGA frequently argues that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs exist solely to elevate less qualified individuals over white men (source).
Totalitarianism and Dictatorship (In Progress)
Nazi Germany:
One-party rule
Leader worship (Führerprinzip)
State-controlled surveillance & enforcement
MAGA MATCH? ⚠️ In Progress.
Why? The Trump administration is attempting to centralize power by issuing executive orders (EOs) that defy constitutional limits. They are seizing control of independent agencies (like the FEC and SEC) while firing watchdogs and replacing civil servants with loyalists (source).
Antisemitism and Racial Purity
Nazi Germany:
Systematic persecution of Jews
Eugenics programs promoting racial hygiene
The Holocaust—6 million Jews murdered
MAGA MATCH? ⚠️ Somewhat.
Why? While MAGA does not explicitly advocate for racial purity, it tolerates antisemitic supporters. Groups like Proud Boys, Patriot Front, and Aryan Nation openly display Holocaust-denying slogans (e.g., "6MWE"—6 Million Wasn’t Enough). Additionally, Trump's allies are rounding up migrants and sending them to Guantánamo, where U.S. laws do not apply.
Militarism and Aggression
Nazi Germany:
Glorification of war and violence
Expansionist Lebensraum policies
Mass militarization
MAGA MATCH? ✅ Yes.
Why? Every Trump rally is filled with violent rhetoric or calls for physical action against political enemies. While full-scale militarization hasn’t occurred, the aggressive nature of the movement is undeniable (source).
Anti-Democracy and Anti-Liberalism
Nazi Germany:
Elimination of political opposition
Abolition of liberal rights
Despising pacifism and compassion
MAGA MATCH? ✅ Yes.
Why? Trump's Project 2025 explicitly aims to create a post-liberal America. Trump also issued an executive order declaring that only he and the Attorney General can interpret laws for government agencies (source).
Propaganda and Control of Information
Nazi Germany:
Ministry of Propaganda (Joseph Goebbels)
State-controlled media
Cult of Personality
MAGA MATCH? ✅ Yes.
Why? Trump has reshaped media access, favoring MAGA-aligned outlets while restricting or punishing reporters who challenge the movement (source).
Economic and Social Policy Control
Nazi Germany:
State-controlled economy
Gender roles enforced
Massive public works programs
MAGA MATCH? ✅ Yes.
Why? Trump’s tariff-heavy economic nationalism, opposition to DEI, and attacks on gender identity all point toward social and economic control (source).
Anti-Communism and Anti-Socialism
Nazi Germany:
Suppression of left-wing movements
Imprisonment/execution of communists
MAGA MATCH? ✅ Yes.
Why? MAGA brands nearly all opposition as "Marxists" or "Socialists", even when applied to moderate Democrats.
Führerprinzip (Leadership Principle)
Nazi Germany:
Hitler as the supreme leader
Unquestioned loyalty to the party
MAGA MATCH? ✅ Yes.
Why? Trump completely dominates the Republican Party, silencing all dissenting voices.
Glorification of Youth and Indoctrination
Nazi Germany:
Hitler Youth indoctrination
State-controlled education
MAGA MATCH? ⚠️ Somewhat.
Why? MAGA-aligned groups like Turning Point USA aggressively target young men with conservative nationalist messaging, but there is no mandatory youth indoctrination (source).
Final Tally
✅ YES = 7
⚠️ SOMEWHAT = 2
⏳ IN PROGRESS = 1
As of February 23, 2025, the MAGA movement does not yet fully match the German Nazi Party of 1933—but it is clearly goose-stepping down the same road.
If history teaches us anything, it's that no regime starts as a dictatorship—it becomes one when good people stay silent.
The question isn’t "Is MAGA identical to the Nazi Party?"
The real question is: "How far will it go?"
And more importantly: "How far will we let it?"
#resist