Donald Trump’s Name-Calling is from the Authoritarian Playbook

Trying to decide how “presidential” it is to put down other people by name calling and repeatedly using demeaning language, it’s easy to conclude that this method of speaking is not presidential, it is the very definition of “authoritarian leaders.”

“Authoritarian” means a leader who concentrates power in themselves, weakens democratic checks, attacks or silences critics, and uses fear or force to control people. This style often includes harsh rhetoric, blaming enemies for problems, and demanding loyalty over debate. Historians and political scientists use this term to explain how such leaders maintain control and reduce opposition.

President Donald Trump’s repeated use of harsh, demeaning language toward political opponents and groups of people includes insults and sweeping claims that paint others as dangerous or less human. Critics argue this kind of language weakens democracy by making it easier to excuse harm, discrimination, or the loss of rights.

Trump has repeatedly used words such as “scum” to describe political opponents and has falsely blamed all immigrants for problems ranging from crime to housing shortages. He has said undocumented immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country,” language that civil rights groups say echoes racist ideas about purity. 

Supporters say he is blunt and honest, while critics say his words divide the country and dehumanize others. At rallies, Trump has spoken about people having “good genes,” remarks many observers linked to eugenics. He has also attacked critics by calling them mentally ill or accusing them of suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” 

Trump is not unique in his use of this language. He keeps company in this way with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and historical authoritarian leaders Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin. Putin for example, has long used similar tactics where he frequently labels opponents as “scum,” “traitors,” or a “fifth column” working against the nation. 

This language is often aimed at critics of his government or Russians who oppose the war in Ukraine. By framing dissent as betrayal, Putin’s words help justify arrests, censorship, and harsh punishments.

In Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler used dehumanizing language as a central tool of his rule. Hitler and Nazi propagandists described Jews and other targeted groups as “enemies of the people,” “parasites,” and a form of “poison.” This racist language portrayed entire communities as dangerous and less than human, making it easier for ordinary citizens to accept mass arrests, concentration camps, and murder.

Soviet leader Joseph Stalin also relied on broad, degrading labels to maintain power. Under Stalin, people accused of opposing the state were called “enemies of the people,” a term that eventually applied to millions, including party members, farmers, and ethnic minorities. Others were branded “social parasites” if they were seen as not contributing enough to society. These words helped justify imprisonment, exile, and execution on a massive scale.

Across history, these leaders show how language can be used as a weapon. By stripping people of their humanity, leaders lower moral barriers and make cruelty seem acceptable or necessary. Many historians and advocates warn that when similar rhetoric appears in modern politics, it signals real danger to democratic norms and human rights.

 

References:

Berkeley News. “There’s a term for Trump’s political style: Authoritarian populism.” University of California, Berkeley, Jan. 21, 2025. https://news.berkeley.edu/2025/01/21/theres-a-term-for-trumps-political-style-authoritarian-populism/

Human Rights Careers. “Authoritarianism 101: Definition, examples, and how to address it.” HumanRightsCareers.com, n.d. https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/authoritarianism-101-definition-examples-and-how-to-address-it/

London School of Economics US Centre. “Trump fits the bill of an authoritarian — but so do many Americans.” LSE USAPP Blog, June 9, 2025. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2025/06/09/trump-fits-the-bill-of-an-authoritarian-but-so-do-many-americans/

Oxford Review. “Authoritarian leadership.” Oxford Review Encyclopaedia of Terms, n.d. https://oxford-review.com/oxford-review-encyclopaedia-terms/authoritarian-leadership/

Wikipedia. “Authoritarian leadership style.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authoritarian_leadership_style

Wikipedia. “Authoritarianism.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authoritarianism

Wikipedia. “Political strongman.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_strongman

 

Author: Ed H.