Media figures from across the political spectrum reacted with horror on Twitter during Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's speech at the Republican National Convention (RNC), calling it the “bleakest, darkest, most fascistic speech” that just kept getting “darker and darker.” Several commentators compared the speech to that of a “fascist” “dictator.”
Trump is painting a dark and dire portrait of a lawless, terrorized America as he accepts the Republican presidential nomination. #RNCinCLE
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) July 22, 2016
I just... I cannot believe the vast majority of the country doesn't look at this speech and see that he comes off like a populist dictator.
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) July 22, 2016
This is literally the ugliest, most terrifying political speech I have ever seen in my life.
— Felix Salmon (@felixsalmon) July 22, 2016
This is unlike any acceptance speech I've ever seen. Not a single grace note or touch of humor or self-deprecation.
— Jeff Greenfield (@greenfield64) July 22, 2016
The angriest acceptance speech I can remember #RNCinCLE
— Arianna Huffington (@ariannahuff) July 22, 2016
Let me tell you what the most important fact of this speech is: it's great for Trump voters. It's a disaster for everyone else.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) July 22, 2016
It's also just really hard to work yourself up into cheers when the topic is brutal death.
— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) July 22, 2016
This is much, much darker than Bob Dole's 96 acceptance speech. And that was pretty dark, as far as these things go.
— Juliet Eilperin (@eilperin) July 22, 2016
there is a theme here, even if you don’t like it. It’s “things are fucked and i’m your salve”
not deep. not detailed. maybe effective.— Sam Stein (@samsteinhp) July 22, 2016
It feels like a speech from a dystopian future where the country is so scared it elects a dictator. https://t.co/HeMRJeF5e2
— Jay Cost (@JayCostTWS) July 22, 2016
Our Republican Presidential candidate sounds like he thinks we are in the collapsing Weimar Republic.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) July 22, 2016
I never realized America was such a crappy place
— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) July 22, 2016
“Peace will be restored” ... because what I think when I hear this speech. I think “peace”
— Jackie Kucinich (@JFKucinich) July 22, 2016
In one hour from now, a thick, dark fog will envelop this great country and likely will never lift, unless I win. https://t.co/blqPUVmq7m
— Scott Wilson (@PostScottWilson) July 22, 2016
There isn't a silent majority anymore. We're not the same electorate we were in 1968. The same dog whistles don't amass enough votes.
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) July 22, 2016
Trump's words are darker than a Norwegian coal mine in winter. There isn't an iota of Americanism in this address.
— Edward Luce (@EdwardGLuce) July 22, 2016
This is the bleakest, darkest, most fascistic speech I've ever heard delivered by an American politician
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) July 22, 2016
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) July 22, 2016
Trump's Message: Fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, fear. Vote for me. I'll Make America Great Again.
— Steven Greenhouse (@greenhousenyt) July 22, 2016
I was a liberal in the Bush years, a conservative in the Obama years, and for the first time I'm truly frightened for the future of America.
— Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) July 22, 2016
This speech is darker than a coal mine. RIP Reagan Republicanism.
— Edward Luce (@EdwardGLuce) July 22, 2016
just gets darker and darker...
— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) July 22, 2016
This is a fascist speech
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) July 22, 2016
There are hardly any refugees coming to America. That is the tragedy. They are running from our enemies.
Trump's hatred is bottomless.— Tony Fratto (@TonyFratto) July 22, 2016
If the draft I'm seeing is right, the speech is basically Buchananism without religion.
— Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) July 21, 2016
This is Pat Buchanan's 1992 convention speech, considerably dumbed down, and-- more important--delivered by the Republican Party's nominee.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) July 22, 2016
He is doing George Wallace, Ross Perot, Pat Buchanan, Father Coughlin -- all of them. Straight populism. PJB has won. PJB = DJT. Wowser.
— Jay Nordlinger (@jaynordlinger) July 22, 2016
I would like to congratulate Pat Buchanan for winning over the Republican party. You lost the battle in 1992, but won the war in 2016.
— Eli Lake (@EliLake) July 22, 2016
The whole Trump speech feels like a warmed over version of Buchanan's '92 culture war jeremiad #RNCinCLE
— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) July 22, 2016
And there's lightning and thunder and the lights are flickering. https://t.co/m0lzI64Ptr
— Walter Shapiro (@MrWalterShapiro) July 22, 2016
It's Mourning In America
— Mike Memoli (@mikememoli) July 22, 2016
This speech is a relentless, unyielding, humorless, hectoring appeal to fear and loathing.
— Bret Stephens (@StephensWSJ) July 22, 2016
Ugh fascism is exhausting.
— Miriam Elder (@MiriamElder) July 22, 2016
Totally believable that Trump used to read through Hitler’s speeches.
— Matt O'Brien (@ObsoleteDogma) July 22, 2016
What a dark moment for our country.
— Matt Ford (@fordm) July 22, 2016
That was a rough experience.
— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) July 22, 2016