Extremism Expert Warns Trump Could Rile Up His Base: ‘If He Called for Violence, There Would be Violence’
During an interview with SiriusXMProgress host Dean Obeidallah, extremism expert J.M. Berger warned that President Donald Trump could potentially rile his base up to the point of violence.
Obeidallah started off by saying that he fears Trump’s call to violence would lead his supporters to act.
“If he [Trump] called for violence, there would be violence,” Berger replied, after saying that the presidency is a pretty powerful bullhorn and pulpit.
He added: “I think that is a pretty easy call. Where that puts him on the spectrum in between extremism and authoritarianism is a little more complicated.”
“I will not make the direct comparison, but if you looking at somebody like Hitler, he had a very well developed extremist ideology he was advancing,” he continued on. “It was very specific … we don’t have that with Trump.”
He then said only time will tell how history will ultimately judge Trump.
“I think history will probably end up looking at him as an authoritarian who attempted to use extremism to his advantage,” Berger surmised. “But there is still a lot that could happen.”
Listen above, via SiriusXMProgress
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