'Describing himself': Internet agrees as White House calls Trump's Gestapo remark 'rhetoric of fascists'
WASHINGTON, DC: The White House condemned former President Donald Trump for comparing the current administration under President Joe Biden to the Gestapo secret police force in Nazi Germany, reported The Hill.
Deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said the GOP presumptive nominee's remarks echoed the "appalling rhetoric of fascists" in a statement released on Sunday, May 5.
Trump, who often expressed his admiration towards dictators like Adolf Hitler, during his speech at the Republican National Committee's retreat on May 4, said Biden and his team were "running a Gestapo administration."
The Gestapo was a secret police force in Nazi Germany which was used to suppress political opposition and round up Jews for deportation to concentration camps.
"And it's the only thing they have. And it's the only way they're going to win, in their opinion, and it's actually killing them. But it doesn't bother me," the White House hopeful said, according to audio of the event obtained by The New York Times.
Several donors and the top vice president contenders of Trump attended the closed-door luncheon held at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.
White House criticizes Donald Trump's remarks
"Instead of echoing the appalling rhetoric of fascists, lunching with Neo Nazis, and fanning debunked conspiracy theories that have cost brave police officers their lives, President Biden is bringing the American people together around our shared democratic values and the rule of law — an approach that has delivered the biggest violent crime reduction in 50 years," Bates said in the statement.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, who is on the list of Trump's VP pick, confirmed that the former president compared the Biden administration to the Nazi police force; however, he downplayed its significance.
In an interview on CNN's 'State of the Union', the Republican said it was "a short comment deep into the thing that wasn't really central to what he [Trump] was talking about." He added that "a majority of Americans feel like the trial that he's in right now is politically motivated."
Trump is currently under criminal trial in the hush money case for falsifying business records to cover up a $130000 payment to an adult film actress during the final days of his 2016 election campaign to silence her about the alleged affair.
The "Gestapo" remarks were the latest in Trump's rhetoric that echoed dictators. For instance, in December 2023, he said the illegal immigrants entering the US were "poisoning the blood of our country." He also labeled his political opponents as "vermin" during another event last year. Both statements drew criticism for mirroring Hitler.
Internet slams Donald Trump
Agreeing with the White House's condemnation of Trump, netizens also lashed out at the former president.
One user wrote on Facebook, "He is the most despicable man in America! It scares me to think people belive him, think he is God's gift and will vote for him."
Another argued, "Trump will rule gestapo tactics if he becomes president. Everything he says is describing himself don’t you get that sfter all these years!"
"Every accusation is a confession," a user added. One response read, "He’s beyond stupid so ignore him."
One person called Trump a "Disgusting guy" on X. Meanwhile, another user wrote, "No tie, disgraceful.
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.