CNN anchor Jim Acosta didn’t hold back in his criticism of former President Donald Trump over a video that referenced a “unified Reich,” pointing out the troubling echoes of Adolf Hitler’s language and Trump’s history of flirtation with Nazi and White supremacist rhetoric.
Acosta began by highlighting President Biden’s response to the now-deleted video, where he stated that Trump was “using Hitler’s language.” The term “Reich,” commonly associated with Nazi Germany, was prominently featured in the video, prompting concern and condemnation.
Despite claims from Trump’s campaign that they were not responsible for the video and blamed a staffer for its posting, Acosta pointed out Trump’s longstanding association with Nazi rhetoric. This included defending and socializing with white nationalists, expressing admiration for Hitler’s actions, and employing dehumanizing language against political opponents and immigrants.
Acosta emphasized Trump’s use of terms like “animals,” “diseases,” and “vermin” to describe certain groups, drawing parallels to Hitler’s rhetoric of dehumanization. He highlighted Trump’s failure to unequivocally denounce white supremacists in the past and questioned why he continues to use language with such dark historical connotations.
JIM ACOSTA: “He’s using Hitler’s language,” end quote. That’s how President Biden responded to a now deleted video posted by former President Donald Trump that referenced a, quote, “unified Reich” if he wins reelection.
UNIFIED REICH VIDEO CLIP: Trump wins. What’s next for America?
JIM ACOSTA: There you can see it right there, highlighted on your screen.
The word Reich, of course, is most often associated with Nazi Germany. Not many other associations out there.
Trump’s campaign claims it did not create the video and is blaming an oblivious staffer for posting it while Trump was in court.
But the former president’s flirtation with Nazi rhetoric is nothing new. He’s defended and dined with white nationalists at Mar-A-Lago. He’s told confidants that Hitler, quote, “did some good things,” and he’s used incendiary language to dehumanize political opponents and immigrants, even suggesting, as Adolf Hitler did, that they’re, quote, “poisoning the blood of our country.”
DONALD TRUMP: They’re poisoning the blood of our country. That’s what they’ve done. Country-changing, country-threatening and they’re country-wrecking.
They’re not humans. They’re not humans. They’re animals.
I’ll use the word animal because that’s what they are.
We don’t want them coming into our country with contagious diseases. And they have it.
We will root out the communist, Marxist fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country.
JIM ACOSTA: Animals, diseases, and vermin. Words you wouldn’t probably use to describe a human being. That’s not language that echoes Adolf Hitler’s rhetoric. That is Adolf Hitler’s rhetoric. Poison or toxin, animals or rats, diseases or viruses, vermin or cockroaches.
Where’s the difference? The truth is, there isn’t one.
And when confronted with that reality, Trump, he feigns ignorance, claiming he didn’t know Hitler used those words.
Well, now he knows. And regardless, he continues to parrot that language today.
That’s an alarming choice for a man who has often struggled to unequivocally denounce white supremacists. You recall these moments.
DONALD TRUMP: Proud Boys! Stand back and stand by!
Excuse me… You had some very bad people in that group. But you also had people that were very fine people. On both sides.
JIM ACOSTA: Those words. Those words have power. They have meaning. And when Donald Trump speaks, the world listens.
Neo-Nazis and White supremacists certainly listen. So why can’t he denounce them? Why can’t he reject their support? Why does he continue to use rhetoric with dark historical parallels?
