'OK, that's scary': Stephen Colbert references Godwin's law as he shares take on Trump-Hitler comparison
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Stephen Colbert recently ventured into politically charged territory by referencing Godwin's Law in light of the ongoing comparisons between former President Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler.
The late-night talk show host humorously dissected the narrative surrounding Trump's rhetoric - which some say is reminiscent of Hitler's phrases - during his recent campaign trail appearances.
Trump's use of Hitler-esque language
Colbert highlighted how Trump has employed some of Hitler's favored expressions in his speeches, labeling opponents as "vermin," accusing immigrants of "poisoning the blood of the country," and even using a phrase popularly associated with Hitler.
Colbert quipped, "He's been using some of Hitler's favorite phrases in the various speeches he's been giving. He's called his opponents... called them vermin. He said immigrants are poisoning the blood of the country and, of course, used Hitler's most popular catchphrase."
While the Biden campaign has consistently drawn parallels between Trump's rhetoric and fascist speech, Colbert acknowledged that such a comparison is inherently extreme.
Enter Godwin's Law—a widely recognized concept in online discourse, asserting that in any heated online discussion, someone will inevitably draw a comparison to Hitler or Nazis.
Colbert explores Godwin's law in Trump-Hitler comparison
Colbert humorously related this phenomenon to his experiences in online forums, joking about trivial arguments escalating to absurd Hitler comparisons, like debates in a Facebook smoothie group taking on a disturbingly political color.
"Godwin's law, which states that anytime people start fighting on the internet, someone will inevitably reach for the Hitler comparison. I see it all the time in my Facebook smoothie group - 'You put chia seed in with pineapple. Why don't you Annex Jamba Juice you Vitamix?'" he quipped.
However, Colbert didn't stop there. He pointed out a fascinating aspect—Mike Godwin, the creator of Godwin's Law, himself supports the comparison between Trump and Hitler.
"That the creator of Godwin's law Mike Godwin, who says the Hitler comparison is apt - okay, that's scary. That's like the guy who invented the 5-second rule saying 'do not eat that Cheeto off the floor.' That's what Hitler would," Colbert quipped.
Godwin's endorsement of the comparison adds a striking layer to the ongoing discussions surrounding the use of Hitler comparisons.
Meanwhile, the comparison between Trump and Hitler isn't merely frivolous but appears to be a conversation that's making its way into mainstream political discourse.
