# Necessity of De-Trumpification, and to what extent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [August 28, 2026, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628 "2026-08-28T13:31:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/81 "2026-08-31T23:33:22Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > All of these factors are present, or is on the wish list, in the Trump administration. Everyone, by now, should be familiar with Umberto Eco’s (et al.) fascist checklist, > **[Ur-Fascism | Overview](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ur-Fascism#Overview)** > > Eternal Fascism: Fourteen Ways of Looking at a Blackshirt examines the core characteristics of fascism. Eco outlines fourteen key elements or traits, which he refers to as "ways," that commonly appear in fascist movements. While not all these traits are present in every fascist movement, together they create a recognizable pattern. The essay is structured around these fourteen ways, providing an in-depth exploration of fascism as a multifaceted and adaptable ideology. He argues that it is not > **[Ur-Fascism | Umberto Eco](https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1995/06/22/ur-fascism/)** > > I think it is possible to outline a list of features that are typical of what I would like to call Ur-Fascism, or Eternal Fascism. These features cannot be organized into a system; many of them contradict each other, and are also typical of other... ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/82 "2026-09-01T00:05:59Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think fascism is a reasonable term for the Trump administration. I usually refer to the administration as authoritarian only because I don’t think Trump has an ideology beyond avarice and narcissism. But you make a much better case to specify the type of authoritarianism it is. > [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > This seems to me the same issue that’s faced every Democratic president since Clinton. Republicans are always able to frame it as, "They didn’t fix the mess we caused fast enough. (Just not in those exact words.) The Republicans in Texas have been in charge for around thirty years at this point. I don’t know how any Republican in their state legislature can possibly run on a platform of fixing things. It reminds me of that scene in _Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou?_ where the sitting government asks his campaign manager, “How am I going to run on reform as the incumbent?” ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/83 "2026-09-01T14:09:51Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I don’t know how any Republican in their state legislature can possibly run on a platform of fixing things. That’s actually a common rebuttal I’m starting to hear- “your side has been in power for 30 years; any problems there are, _you_ caused.” ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/84 "2026-09-01T15:10:45Z")
As much as I’m looking forward to the mid-term changing of the guard in congress… As much as I’m looking forward to the political enema coming Trump’s way from a Democrat controlled House… As much as I’m looking forward to the possibility of a 2029 De-Trumpification of the government as whole… I am more dreading the endless, incompetent, shrill and impotent way in which the Democrats will bum-rush into congressional hearings to impeach Trump & Co. but inevitably only manage to get jammed up in the doorways. We will never learn that the only way to ever get past Trump is to stop talking about him and giving him the attention on which he thrives. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/85 "2026-09-01T15:21:12Z")
On the one hand, I’d like to see President Harris re-re-name the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario back to their originals. On the other hand, the POTUS never should have had the power (if indeed, he ever did) to change such names, so maybe she should just stay out of it. I picture a future where every time a Democrat is elected POTUS, the two original names stay, and every time a Republican is elected POTUS, we go back to their Trump-era names. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/86 "2026-09-01T15:38:20Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > President Harris Letting her win the nomination for 2028 would be _ **stupid** _ on the DNC’s part. Why run someone with baggage and force a choice for non die-hard Democrat or unaffiliated voters? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/87 "2026-09-01T15:47:19Z")
There’s no “letting” for the DNC. The DNC can’t let or disallow anyone that meets the criteria to run. It will be up to Democratic voters to decide. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/88 "2026-09-01T16:11:10Z")
I thought there were superdelegates and other mechanisms to put the party leadership’s thumb on the scale, so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/89 "2026-09-01T16:17:31Z")
Very little. And the more they try to do it, the more obvious it is, and the more the voters will see it and reject it (IMO). ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/90 "2026-09-01T16:42:09Z")
If Democrats are determined to de-Trumpify after they take power, the best way to do so is to avoid using Trump’s name, or even terms like MAGA, but simply call it “weeding out corruption.” Go after all the Republicans who enriched themselves unjustly or broke laws, but never mention Trump. In fact, in the process, Democrats should lock up a few corrupt Democrats, too, and make big hay in the media about how “those with a (D) after their name are getting jailed too!” to make it seem non-partisan. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/91 "2026-09-01T19:34:38Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > I am more dreading the endless, incompetent, shrill and impotent way in which the Democrats will bum-rush into congressional hearings to impeach Trump & Co. More of less what about half the posters here want, but many of us just want the Dems to fix things and a return to sanity. > [@HeyHomie](#): > > On the one hand, I’d like to see President Harris re-re-name the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario back to their originals. On the other hand, the POTUS never should have had the power (if indeed, he ever did) to change such names, so maybe she should just stay out of it. The President has nearly always had such authority. Who else? A congressional committee? 🙀 > [@bump](#): > > Letting her win the nomination for 2028 would be _ **stupid** _ on the DNC’s part. Why run someone with baggage and force a choice for non die-hard Democrat or unaffiliated voters? Every major candidate has baggage. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > There’s no “letting” for the DNC. The DNC can’t let or disallow anyone that meets the criteria to run. It will be up to Democratic voters to decide. Correct. > [@Velocity](#): > > the best way to do so is to avoid using Trump’s name, or even terms like MAGA, but simply call it “weeding out corruption.” Go after all the Republicans who enriched themselves unjustly or broke laws, but never mention Trump. In fact, in the process, Democrats should lock up a few corrupt Democrats, too, works for me. ---
**Author:** ![JDYanYan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jdyanyan/32/21663_2.png) [@JDYanYan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDYanYan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/92 "2026-09-01T20:29:39Z")
Post 2016 Bernie cope has been one of the most malignant vectors of misinformation in left leaning politics. Super delegates have never made an impact in a presidential primary, and since 2020 they have no power whatsoever outside of a contested convention. Biden beat Bernie by 10 million votes, Hillary beat Bernie by 3 million votes. That’s why the last two presidential primaries ended the way they did. Everything else is people whining. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/93 "2026-09-02T12:20:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Every major candidate has baggage. Not every one has the stink of having lost an election _and_ looking like they were involved in covering up how badly Biden was doing. That’s what I’m getting at; she’s got uniquely bad optics compared to the rest of the prominent Democratic politicians. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/94 "2026-09-02T18:41:16Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Not every one has the stink of having lost an election _and_ looking like they were involved in covering up how badly Biden was doing. Mayor Pete ran for president and lost, and was on Bidens cabinet. Ossoff lost an election. I doubt Harris had any idea of Biden’s prostate cancer. In any case, Harris is the #1 in these early polls- > **[2028 Democratic Presidential Nomination - 270toWin](https://www.270towin.com/2028-democratic-nomination/)** > > Public opinion polling for the 2028 democratic nomination. But should this not go into the thread for 2028 Presidential candidates instead of De-trumpification? ---
**Author:** ![JDYanYan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jdyanyan/32/21663_2.png) [@JDYanYan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDYanYan)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/95 "2026-09-02T19:05:54Z")
I don’t think Biden had any idea about Biden’s prostate cancer. He started radiation treatment after he announced he had it publicly, which was several months after he left office. No way he waits that long with a cancer that aggressive. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/96 "2026-09-03T12:26:44Z")
There’s a big difference between losing in the primary and losing the general election. Plus, after Biden’s disastrous debate performance, being part of the administration, she looks like she was complicit in hiding that from the people. Whether or not he was addled and confused is beside the point; that’s how Biden was perceived, and a lot of people viewed it as either a bait & switch- Biden gets the automatic nod, then they swap him out for her once his fuddlement is revealed, or she looks complicit in knowing he was fuddled and let him continue as President anyway. Doesn’t really matter what the truth is; it’s what people feel and believe in this sort of thing, and people don’t feel good about Kamala Harris at this point. If she wins the primary, I’ll be surprised. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/97 "2026-09-03T19:02:15Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Doesn’t really matter what the truth is; it’s what people feel and believe in this sort of thing Cite? I read about an interesting study. It seems that if you castigate and say bad things about your opponent, the public tends to think you are also bad and mean. In other words, talking trash about trump might backfire. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/98 "2026-09-04T15:26:10Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > It seems that if you castigate and say bad things about your opponent, the public tends to think you are also bad and mean. In other words, talking trash about trump might backfire. Trump said bad things about opponent after opponent, and got elected, right? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/99 "2026-09-04T16:16:16Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Trump said bad things about opponent after opponent, and got elected, right? Forget it Waldo. It’s MAGAtown. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628/100 "2026-09-04T18:54:42Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > It seems that if you castigate and say bad things about your opponent, the public tends to think you are also bad and mean. Mud slinging is an attempt to be the lesser evil. A nice thing about a three-way race is that the lesser evil tends to come in second. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necessity-of-de-trumpification-and-to-what-extent/1032628.md?page=6)