It’s seeping into every crack and crevice. Where it is least wanted and least expected, a disease is circulating across the United States, infecting all walks of life. Slowly, it’s spreading throughout America’s once trusted government. It’s not an exaggeration to say that fascism is here, and it’s metastasizing out of control.
Less than a century ago, the United States fought a world war to stop fascism. But today, that ideology has clawed its way into the halls of American government.
After his election as German Chancellor, Adolf Hitler imprisoned millions in concentration camps, the majority unlawfully taken and never registered as prisoners. More than half of these prisoners were killed. Arts and literature were suppressed from public viewing, books were burnt, radio was controlled, and film was heavily censored to promote Nazi propaganda.
The parallels between the 1930’s and now are hard to miss.
Nearly a century ago, the United States stood steadfast against the Nazi regime during World War II. However, in the 21st century, the line between the ideals of Nazi Germany and the United States Government blur more and more with each passing day. Since Donald Trump was elected as President of the United States in 2016, and again in 2024, his ideals have drifted into totalitarianism. In the first three months of his second term, President Trump signed over 120 executive orders, and has since ignored checks and balances addressing the legality of those decisions. If it weren’t clear enough, Trump has called himself a dictator, affirming the accusation that he is one by saying that “sometimes you need a dictator.”
As of April 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are reported to have detained approximately 60,311 people. Data from earlier in the year by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse indicates that fewer than 30% of detainees have criminal convictions that would legally warrant their detention. Morally, however, none of these detentions have been warranted.
The arts, too, are being suppressed. One of Trump’s executive orders served to appoint himself as Chairman of the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts’ Board of Trustees, and then subsequently eradicated the bipartisan board, resulting in the loss of several artists and performances. But Trump isn’t the only government official aiming to silence arts and culture. Around the bend in Hamilton County, Westfield High School’s marching band is under attack from Indiana’s Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith. The group’s recent performance, “Red Line,” has been shunned by the Lieutenant Governor as “demonic filth,” despite representing no themes that would indicate merit to such accusations.
When government officials proudly flaunt their disregard for democratic norms, it can seem hopeless to try and curb it. When the President of the United States is a 34-count-felon who has not been sentenced, and has circumvented removal from office after impeachment two times, such fears are warranted. However, steps can be taken to rise against the evil infecting America, and it starts with talking. Talk about everything. Talk about the high school band, and uplift the art that they’re creating. Talk about things that seem wrong, because evil thrives when it is ignored. Talk about the immigrants in the community, who are the backbone of this country. And most importantly, when the time comes, vote to squash the policies that allow for constituent voices to be silenced, and empower the things that really make America great.
