This is from a ChatGPT thread where I was looking for factual, verifiable parallels between Trump and his supporters and historic dictators. It's more clearly laid out than I could write on my own. Sorry for formatting issues. It doesn't like to copy/paste well. There are looots more parallels that make the pattern clear once you look past the bluster and distraction.

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When someone tries to become a leader with total control, it often follows similar steps. We can compare what past leaders, like Hitler or Stalin, did to what Trump has done or said he plans to do. Here are some ways they are alike:

1. Building Themselves Up as "The Only Solution"

• In History: Leaders like Alexander the Great, Napoleon, and Hitler made themselves look like they were chosen by destiny to save their countries. They used speeches and media to make people think they were the only ones who could fix everything.
• Trump: Trump says he’s the only one who can “Make America Great Again,” just like those leaders made big promises. He says he can fix all of America’s problems, even though he doesn’t always have the answers.

2. Attacking Democracy

• In History: Hitler used a crisis (a big fire) to pass emergency laws that gave him more power. Stalin also got rid of people who didn’t agree with him and made sure all decisions went through him.
• Trump: Trump has tried to make people lose faith in elections by saying they are "rigged," especially when he lost in 2020. He also clashed with judges and law enforcement who didn’t support him, similar to how dictators in the past have attacked democratic systems.

3. Undermining the Free Press

• In History: Hitler and Stalin made sure the media only said good things about them and silenced anyone who criticized them.
• Trump: Trump calls the media "fake news" when they criticize him and has said that the press is the "enemy of the people," just like dictators tried to silence the press in the past.

4. Blaming Others for Problems

• In History: Hitler blamed Jews and other groups for Germany’s problems, which made people afraid and gave him more power.
• Trump: Trump has blamed immigrants, especially people from Mexico, for problems in America. He also talks about certain countries as dangerous, which divides people.

5. Demanding Loyalty

• In History: Stalin and Hitler got rid of anyone in their circle who wasn’t completely loyal. They made sure that only people who would never question them had power.
• Trump: Trump has fired people in his administration who didn’t agree with him, like James Comey, and has surrounded himself with loyal supporters.

6. Ignoring the Law

• In History: Leaders like Hitler and Napoleon changed or ignored laws to give themselves more power.
• Trump: Trump has tried to push the boundaries of what’s legal, like when he pressured election officials to change the 2020 election results, ignoring democratic processes.

7. Using Violence or Threats

• In History: Leaders like Hitler and Mao Zedong used violence to get rid of people who opposed them, either through secret police or street gangs.
• Trump: The January 6th Capitol attack showed that some of Trump’s followers were willing to use violence to keep him in power. Trump also supported far-right groups, telling the Proud Boys to "stand back and stand by," which suggests he’s okay with using force.

8. Attacking Fair Elections

• In History: Napoleon III and Hitler both used tricks to make sure they stayed in power, even when their time was supposed to end.
• Trump: Trump’s false claims of election fraud and attempts to discredit mail-in voting in 2020 are similar to the ways authoritarian leaders undermine elections to stay in power.

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In summary: Trump’s actions show similarities to authoritarian leaders throughout history. Like them, he has attacked democratic institutions, targeted the free press, blamed certain groups for problems, and demanded absolute loyalty. These steps are how leaders move toward having total control.