Can you imagine what the world would be like if we had a Donald Trump-like President instead of Franklin D. Roosevelt during the lead-up to and during World War II?

Trump would have cozied up to the strongmen of the 1930s and 1940s. Trump’s admiration of strong men would have been in its glory as the authoritarians flexed their military strength and demanded their neighbors cede land to them. Does Venezuela and Greenland come to mind? Or calling Putin’s invasion of Ukraine a la Hitler invasion of Poland brilliant and having a reluctance to assist democratic Ukraine’s struggle to survive? FDR’s America fought against such and for democracies.

Trump would have approved of, or turned a blind eye to, the Jewish ghettos, Russian pogroms, Japanese’s enslavement of “comfort women” from conquered lands and Hitler’s work/death camps. Trump’s immigration and ICE policies against black and brown people are analogous.

Hitler, within months, created an authoritarian government similar to Project 2025’s Unitary Government plan. He created chaos and brought in the Brown Shirted Storm Troopers. The media was turned into a propaganda tool. Institutions caved to his demands. Prosperity from massive governmental spending muted business men’s objections and rallied worker support, remember this was during the Great Depression.

Waving the Flag and scapegoating Jews and other minorities sealed the deal. Norms and due process were discarded. Hitler’s vision justified whatever means necessary. Dissenters were treated harshly and eliminated. Sound familiar?

Trump’s America First campaign slogan reminds us of famous aviator Charles “Lucky Lindy” Lindbergh and the America First Committee members and their rallies encouraging isolation from pre-WW II foreign affairs. Fortunately, FDR consulted Congress, kept the citizens informed and forged alliances among allies, assisted the United Kingdom with Lend Lease while setting up an oil and scrap metal embargo on Japan and presided over America becoming the Arsenal of Democracy. FDR’s America’s involvement in world affairs set the framework for post WW II prosperity and relative peace.

Trump’s America First campaign slogan has turned into America Alone. Trump’s campaign promise to avoid “endless wars” has turned into an ill conceived hellish mess.

Who knows what Trump’s foreign policy is? Does Trump’s, without consultation, violating the International Law On The High Seas, threatening Greenland, taking personal control of Venezuelan oil and seizing Venezuela’s president, dropping bombs on seven countries and threatening an invasion of Iran resemble “no endless war?”

FDR used his radio “fireside chats” to unite Americans. His Four Freedoms Speech reminded the people of the freedoms for which we were fighting.

Trump’s rallies and tweets are confusing, contradictory, divisive, and directed toward his MAGA followers. Trump is not a person who unites countries or people.

FDR believed our strength were the people and their values not how much money or how much authority to bully we have.

FDR was elected by an 18% popular vote margin compared to Trump’s 1%. FDR was elected four times. He led us victoriously through WW II as well as promoting policies to help the people during the Great Depression. Yet, never did FDR claim to be the greatest or demand a peace prize.

FDR sought advice. He knew he needed knowledgeable advisors with various points of view. He listened. He listened to wife Eleanor. Trump will listen only to those who tell him what he wants to hear. Their continual flattery and irrational personal loyalty is comically absurd, if it were not so perilous.

FDR was adored and respected the world over. His successors continued FDR’s involvement policies – Marshall Plan, NATO, etc.. Doing so was not done as a business transaction but it was done knowing it was in America’s best interests and it was the right thing to do.

When FDR spoke, people listened with respect. When Trump talks, as in Davos, recently, listeners laughed, were insulted, were angry, and view him as a dangerous buffoon.

I can almost hear FDR say, in a fireside chat, “Pull your chair up to the radio and listen, my fellow Americans, this is not normal. Good law-based presidents and good value-based politicians will emerge.”

It is encouraging to see the continual and growing protests, nation wide, and more politicians speaking out. This November will provide an opportunity for citizens to act. Our mid-term election is something the German citizens did not have.

What a contrast, Trump resembles Hitler more than FDR.

It’s hard to imagine a prosperous America with its citizens having Bill of Rights freedoms with leaders who are not guided by our common values and committed to our Constitution. I would not like to live in an America controlled by Hitler-like leaders.

Don Scott is a North Warren resident.