Former President Donald Trump is facing criticism for a video posted on his Truth Social account that included a reference to the “creation of a unified Reich” if he were to return to the White House in November.
The 30-second clip, posted on Monday evening, shows hypothetical news headlines in the event of Trump winning the 2024 presidential election. One headline reads, “It a landslide! Trump wins!!” followed by a question about “what’s next for America?” with a photo of Trump holding up a fist in front of the American flag.
However, the video sparked controversy as one of the headlines mentioned the “creation of a unified Reich,” a term associated with Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime. Trump’s spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, denied that the reference was intentional, stating that it was created by a random account online and reposted by a staffer who did not see the word while the president was in court.
Despite the explanation, the video remains on Trump’s Truth Social platform, prompting President Biden’s campaign team to accuse Trump of signaling his intention to “rule as a dictator” over a ‘unified Reich.’
This incident is not the first time Trump has faced criticism for using language reminiscent of authoritarian regimes. Earlier this month, he referred to Biden’s administration as a “Gestapo administration” and made derogatory remarks about immigrants and his political opponents.
The video also includes text copied verbatim from a Wikipedia entry on the First World War, further adding to the controversy surrounding its content. As the debate continues, the implications of Trump’s rhetoric and messaging remain a point of contention in the political landscape.