Stop Calling Everyone a Fascist — It’s Not Just Wrong, It’s Dangerous

If you’ve been paying attention to the news or scrolling through social media, you’ve probably noticed a trend: the word fascist gets thrown around like it’s just another political insult. Someone supports enforcing immigration laws? Fascist. Someone wants to fund the police? Fascist. Someone waves the American flag and quotes the Constitution? Apparently, also fascist.

This kind of rhetoric isn’t just over-the-top — it’s completely divorced from what fascism actually is. Historically, fascism referred to authoritarian regimes like Mussolini’s Italy or Hitler’s Germany. Real fascists crushed free speech, dissolved democratic institutions, censored the press, and used violence to silence opposition. That's a far cry from a parent at a school board meeting or a voter who wants lower taxes and stronger borders. Sounds more like the last four years of Biden’s America.

Actual fascists pictured here: Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. Image Source: Council on Foreign Relations

How did we get here? A lot of it comes from the Left redefining the term to mean “anyone I disagree with.” In recent years, progressives have used “fascist” to describe everything from Trump’s “mean” tweets to state-level voter ID laws. In doing so, they’ve drained the word of its actual meaning and turned it into a partisan scare tactic. It’s a way to end an argument before it begins: You’re not just wrong — you’re evil.

Ironically, many of the tactics being used by those crying “fascism” actually mirror authoritarian behavior more than the people they’re accusing. Look around: censorship on college campuses, corporate blacklisting of dissenting voices, social media bans for expressing unpopular opinions. These aren’t things promoted by conservatives calling for free speech and constitutional rights — they’re coming from the so-called “anti-fascists.”

Let’s get another thing straight: loving law and order doesn’t make you a fascist. It makes you someone who wants safe neighborhoods, fair laws, and respect for our institutions. That’s not oppression — that’s common sense. Fascists don’t want equal justice under the law — they want control through fear. Conservatives who champion the rule of law want the opposite: a government held accountable by the Constitution and the people.

Even historians who’ve studied actual fascist regimes warn against watering down the term. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, an expert on authoritarianism, has said that careless use of the word risks making people numb to real threats. If every political disagreement becomes a battle between democracy and fascism, then nothing means anything anymore — and we miss the signs when actual authoritarianism does show up.

And here’s the bigger issue: when the Left labels half the country “fascist,” they’re not just smearing individuals — they’re writing off the beliefs of millions of Americans who care deeply about freedom, faith, and family. That kind of blanket condemnation fuels division and shuts down the chance for honest conversation. According to Pew Research, political polarization in America is at an all-time high — and hyperbolic language like this is part of the problem.

Courtesy Pew Research Center

Patriotism isn’t fascism. Wanting secure borders isn’t fascism. Supporting police officers, defending the Second Amendment, or opposing government overreach — none of those things are fascist. In fact, they’re part of the very fabric of American liberty.

George Orwell warned that political language is used “to make lies sound truthful.” That’s exactly what we’re seeing when people twist “fascism” to fit their agenda. Words matter — and when we use them carelessly, we don’t just lie about our opponents, we lie to ourselves about what’s really happening.

If we’re serious about protecting democracy and preserving civil discourse, we need to stop playing the label game. Disagree? Debate. Make your case. But don’t call someone a fascist or a Nazi just because they love this country and want to protect what it stands for. That’s not only wrong — it’s reckless and you look like an idiot.

About the Author: Tim Hennessy spent 25 years in broadcast television and has served as an advertising agency owner, political campaign manager, and grassroots community organizer. He is currently the President of Hennessy Strategies. Founded in 2020, Hennessy Strategies is a full-service branding and advertising agency serving a diverse client base of innovative companies, candidates, elected officials, nonprofits, and entrepreneurial start-ups from Southwest Florida.