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Donald Trump’s return to the White House has been described as his ‘Mussolini moment’ after posing triumphantly in front of cameras on a balcony after being released from hospital
The US president ripped off his face mask and stared straight ahead, his face bare, flanked by US flags fluttering in the wind – despite still being infected with Covid-19
The cinematic scenes drew disbelief from commentators, many of whom scoffed at what was happening on television networks across the country, and drew comparisons with Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, who often spoke moving speeches from a balcony in Rome
« Donald Trump… looks like he has makeup on, which means someone must have gotten close enough to make up his face with his favorite orange patina »
The comparison to the 20th century dictator has spread to the political divide, the former communications director of Mr. Trump, Anthony Scaramucci, tweeting: « American Mussolini will lose »
America First right-wing host Nicholas Fuentes raged: “The American media was seething because they were hoping Trump would die or be significantly weakened / weakened by the coronavirus and instead he comes out stronger than ever MUSSOLINI MOMENT B **** «
Supporters of the Republican president rallied to agree, M’s tweet Fuentes garnering nearly 5,000 likes
But other Twitter users were quick to point out a less practical truth « Someone didn’t read his Mussolini biography until the end, » the British media scholar remarked Owen Jones
After years of cruel rule over the Italian people, Mussolini was deposed and brutally executed by partisans in northern Italy in the last days of WWII
Actor Stephen Mangan pointed out on Twitter: “Mussolini moment? Trump was gunned down in an alley, the corpse thrown in the back of a van, driven to Milan, hung upside down in a gas station and stoned? «
Director Peter Ramsey jibed, « They really never watch until the end of the movie, do they »
Stanford University Fellow Marietje Schaake kept it simple: « Trump fans embrace him and celebrate him as a fascist »
Other commentators have made similar authoritarian comparisons CNN White House reporter Stephen Collinson said the return of Mr. Trump in the White House had seen « scenes that would not have been moved to totalitarian North Korea »
M Trump was hospitalized for three days at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday, weeks before the November 3 U.S. election
The 74-year-old is reportedly still on steroids after two ‘worrying’ drops in his oxygen levels last week and appeared to have momentary difficulty breathing upon his return, suggesting he was fired prematurely
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Mussolini
News from around the world – United States – Donald Trump’s return to the White House described as a « Mussolini moment »
