Continuing this series, I will compare Trump and MAGA tactics and behaviors with methods detailed in an actual psychological profile of Adolf Hitler.
https://digital.library.cornell.edu/collections/nuremberg/analysis-hitler

1. His primary rules were: never allow the public to cool off.
2. Never admit a fault or wrong.
3. Never concede that there may be some good in your enemy.
4. Never leave room for alternatives.
5. Never accept blame.
6. Concentrate on one enemy at a time and blame him for everything that goes wrong.
7. People will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it.

This installment will examine #2: Never admit a fault or wrong.

Never admit a fault or wrong.

The words “Trump doubles down” have become one of the commonest headline phrases over the last eight years. “Trump doubles down on false racial attacks on Harris.” “Trump doubles down on immigrant ‘blood’ remark.” “Trump Doubles Down on Migrants ‘Poisoning’ the Country.” “Trump doubles down on encouraging supporters to vote twice.” “Trump doubles down on [Elijah] Cummings attacks.” “Trump and his allies double down on election lies after indictments.”

See the pattern? Never apologize, never admit wrongdoing, no matter how appalling or heinous that wrongdoing might be.

“Trump attacks Haley for absence of her husband.” Still waiting for the apology.
“Trump Mocks Hammer Attack On Pelosi’s Husband In Incendiary Speech.” Still waiting for the apology.
“Donald Trump Jr.’s reaction to Paul Pelosi’s attack.” None from his piece of shit son, that’s for sure.
“Trump Refuses to Apologize for His Central Park Five Ad.” And still hasn’t.
“Trump won’t apologize for Muslim comments.” Of course not.
“J.D. Vance Says He Won’t Apologize to Childless Women over ‘Cat Ladies’ Comment.” Hence Trump’s choice in running mate.
“Trump campaign adviser ‘won’t apologize’ for misgendering.” Of course not. To apologize would be to recognize someone’s humanity.
“Trump says he doesn’t owe John McCain an apology.”
“Families of fallen veterans slam Trump as ‘offensive, and frankly anti-American’.” Trump insults Gold Star families. The families demand a letter of apology which, of course, never comes.

One of the dominant traits of fascism and Naziism is dehumanization of others. Total and complete dehumanization. When a movement has completely stripped groups of people of their humanity, fascists feel no need to apologize, admit wrongdoing, or atone for what they have said and done. Dehumanization allows fascistsᴹᴬᴳᴬ to laugh at violent attacks or even the deaths of others.

And this dovetails smoothly into the next chapter: Never concede that there may be some good in your enemy.

To apologize or admit wrongdoing would amount to acknowledging that some good exists in “the other,” and fascists will never, ever do that.

Next installment: “Never concede that there may be some good in your enemy.”