this post was submitted on 19 Apr 2026
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[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 20 points 4 days ago (3 children)

More like he almost doomed the free world and the economy. Imagine if Trump died and an actually competent fascist came in his place. This is the best realistic scenario for America; someone like Putin would already have his opposition in gulags.

[–] gmtom@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I mean that's possible, but also Trump is 100% being managed by the federalist society. He can barely stay awake during meetings, no way he's actually dictating policy.

And that also assumes their was a clear second to take the reins of MAGA that the inner circle would rally behind, power vacuums tend to lead to infighting and without a clear cult leader the low level maga worshipers would likely be in chaos.

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 4 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I mean that's possible, but also Trump is 100% being managed by the federalist society. He can barely stay awake during meetings, no way he's actually dictating policy.

For the most part, yes, but there are pretty clear Trumpisms that a better fascist would have the intelligence and discipline not to indulge in. The whole tariff fiasco for example was completely unnecessary (which is why it's not in Project 2025), and the sheer mass of unforced errors leading up to and during the Iran war would never be made by someone like Putin or Erdogan. Trump is being manipulated behind the scenes, but he's also head of an increasingly authoritarian executive and can do things without his handlers' approval. I'm certain, for example, that a more competent fascist would've been able to manufacture at least some consent for the Iran war, as well as get traditional American allies on board to some extent. These unnecessary failures keep kneecapping his administration's credibility in ways that would've already been fatal if America had better opposition (though I guess with enemies that bad who needs allies). And this is before we get into factors like Trump's inability to channel his own support into down ballot votes. Hell, at the very least America might've been run by a fascist who can stay awake during meetings.

And that also assumes their was a clear second to take the reins of MAGA that the inner circle would rally behind, power vacuums tend to lead to infighting and without a clear cult leader the low level maga worshipers would likely be in chaos.

Initially, yes, but very quickly the systemic need for fascism would win out, and there'd be a consensus candidate ready to sweep the elections by 2028 at the latest. Again this is hard to appreciate due to how incompetent the anti-MAGA coalition is, but with a martyr and a somewhat competent leader it's perfectly plausible that neo-MAGA would've had bigger—maybe even filibuster-proof—majorities in Congress and more cooperative state governments across the board. As far as fascism goes, this is still easy mode.

[–] Mulligrubs@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

...but with a martyr and a somewhat competent leader it’s perfectly plausible that neo-MAGA would’ve had bigger—maybe even filibuster-proof—majorities in Congress

They don't need any of what you described to go "filibuster proof"

  1. They don't even filibuster. They threaten to filibuster.
  2. The super majority vote to bypass filibuster is a PARLIAMENTARY RULE. It is not law, they can change the rule at any time with a simple majority vote. This is not in the constitution. They've changed the rules a few times since 1975.
  3. They bypass the "filibuster threat" whenever they would like to, by using the simple majority vote.

This is how you know what they want to pass or not. If they want to pass the bill, they bypass the filibuster threat with this simple majority vote (like budgets), there are almost 200 exceptions so far.

No conspiracy is needed to accomplish the objective that you describe. It's done been done for decades

[–] gmtom@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I'm not too sure about the whole tariff thing. A lot of people in his inner circle made a fuck ton of money through tactically placed trades before and after each wave of sanctions.

And again with the Iran war stuff, a lot of people are making a mint off this war. And also it's Israel that wanted this war and basically all of the people pulling the strings have some loyalty to Israel.

I don't think so, historically when we see a fascist leader get killed the underlings fight each other for power and fall apart more than they coalesce around a new leader.

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 2 points 3 days ago

I'm not too sure about the whole tariff thing. A lot of people in his inner circle made a fuck ton of money through tactically placed trades before and after each wave of sanctions.

Yes, that's why I said "intelligence and discipline," not just "intelligence." Compared to the expected gains from a fascist dictatorship, a few insider trades are peanuts, so a better fascist might've kept their eyes on the prize and held back on this front instead of threatening the whole project.

And again with the Iran war stuff, a lot of people are making a mint off this war.

See above. A competent fascist wouldn't risk their entire project just to make mint.

And also it's Israel that wanted this war and basically all of the people pulling the strings have some loyalty to Israel.

Yes, which is also an unforced error. Israel can't force a US president to do something they don't want to do, and US presidents with a backbone have a long history of saying no to them, most recently with Obama and JCPOA. A better fascist would be able to make their own decisions rather than listen to whoever is loudest at the time. And in any case, even if war with Iran happened, it could've still happened much more competently.

I don't think so, historically when we see a fascist leader get killed the underlings fight each other for power and fall apart more than they coalesce around a new leader.

What fascist leader died while on the cusp of power? Dying after decades in power is a whole different deal.

[–] starelfsc2@sh.itjust.works 6 points 4 days ago

True actually, the maga cult that justifies everything Trump does finally got pierced by Trump starting a war only he would be dumb enough to start.

Not that the war was the problem, mainly just gas prices went up which is anti American or something.

[–] Hazor@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

This was prior to his reelection, so who would have taken the reins? Vance? Desantis? They wouldn't have turned out the voters like Trump did, even if Fox and OAN and the rest of the propaganda machine worked overtime to harp on how dangerous the left is for assassinating their guy or whatever. Trump has a uniquely cultish charisma that Vance and any other likely replacement candidate simply didn't.

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 1 points 3 days ago

A replacement candidate didn't exist then, but one would quickly emerge from the general mass of American fascism if Trump disappeared. They wouldn't make it in time for 2024, but they'd crush it in 2028.