(IndieDems note: At first, we thought we would incorporate Trump's recent overt us of the language of fascism into our existing feature story, "Trump's Resemblance to Hitler is Increasing, Not Diminishing," since it  fleshed out the theme. But on second thought, Trump's words are such a clean-cut watershed, we decided they warranted separate treatment).

In a speech in New Hampshire on Veterans Day (Nov 11), Trump called his political enemies “vermin” and vowed to “root out” his liberal opponents if he returned to office, suggesting that they pose a greater threat to the United States than countries such as Russia, China or North Korea. Historians pointed out that his use of the term “vermin” echoed dictators like Hitler and Mussolini. Trump’s caustic rhetoric was viewed in the context that he has repeatedly praised dictatorial thugs like Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi, North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, and Hungary’s rightwing strongman Orban.

(His precise words:“We will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country"....Outside threats are “far less sinister, dangerous and grave than the threat from within.”).

In an interview with rightwing broadcaster Glen Beck on November 7, Trump vowed  to lock up political enemies if he returns to White House. Beck had asked, “if you’re president again, will you lock people up?” Trump replied, “The answer is you have no choice, because they’re doing it to us.” Trump went on to say Democrats and other opponents were “sick people … evil people.”

Trump's words over the past week simply prove conclusively what he has been demonstrating in one way or other since he announced his presidential bid in 2015: Donald Trump not only has no respect for America's basic democratic and moral values, he would cast them completely aside is he is re-elected president. The "rule of law" and common human decency mean nothing to him. As the public record plainly shows, Trump has nothing but contempt for God's Commandments that forbid lying, committing adultery, and stealing.

Of course, it's not just Trump whose moral universe is revealed as seriously questioned. Millions of Republicans support his immoral, authoritarian agenda. The more evidence of his criminal acts that are revealed in the legal trials he is facing, the stronger his support becomes among Republicans. The reprobate who is waging a war against democracy itself is the Republicans' overwhelming favorite to be their presidential nominee in 2024.