Writer linked to CIA cutout ridiculed for 'Trump is Hitler' critique
The Atlantic’s Anne Applebaum has faced criticism for her assertion that Trump has been imitating the rhetoric of some of the 20th century's most infamous dictators. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Anne Applebaum, a staff writer for The Atlantic, is facing significant backlash following the publication of an op-ed that compares former U.S. President Donald Trump to notorious dictators like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Benito Mussolini.
The piece, which suggests Trump is adopting the language of some of the 20th century's most infamous leaders, has been met with ridicule, particularly from pro-Trump figures and supporters online. Many have also pointed out Applebaum’s affiliation with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which is often described as a CIA proxy.
The controversy stemmed from Applebaum’s assertion that Trump’s use of descriptors such as “vermin” for his opponents and phrases like “criminal illegal immigrants as animals” mirrors the dehumanizing rhetoric employed by historical dictators. The article's provocative headline, “Trump Is Speaking Like Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini,” drew a wave of criticism.
In response, the Trump campaign derided the article as “fake news by a third-rate media outlet,” while social media users openly mocked both Applebaum and The Atlantic. Journalist Glenn Greenwald was among the first to weigh in, remarking, “When you spend eight years calling a person every bad name you can think of – including Hitler – and it doesn’t work, so you desperately decide to call him all the bad names at once.”
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, similarly dismissed the op-ed, exclaiming, “I can’t stop laughing.” British conservative commentator Ben Kew also added his thoughts, jesting about The Atlantic's editorial process: “I love the idea that the editors sat around and thought, ‘Let’s come up with a headline for Anne Applebaum’s piece that will really scare the average voter.’”
Critics have been vocal about Applebaum’s ties to the NED, a government-funded organization with perceived connections to U.S. intelligence. Some, including journalist Mike Benz, accused her of promoting a pro-intelligence agenda. “Anne Applebaum is on the board of directors for the most notorious CIA cut-out in US history,” Benz remarked, implying that her articles frequently align with U.S. national security interests.
NED, funded by the U.S. State Department, has been involved in actions described by its founder, Carl Gershman, as what “was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA.” In recent times, the NED has played a role in the 2014 Maidan coup in Ukraine, organized meetings for anti-Beijing officials in Taiwan, and funded a UK-based group that aims to undermine right-wing American news outlets.
Applebaum's writings for The Atlantic often show a close alignment with U.S. national security perspectives. She has advocated for regime change in Russia, accused Trump of intending to “abandon” Ukraine and NATO, and criticized Musk for his perceived lack of support for Ukraine.
Despite her prominent role with NED, Applebaum has denied having any personal connections to the CIA. However, her critics frequently underscore the similarity between her views and U.S. foreign policy objectives.
The Atlantic has not yet issued a statement regarding the backlash against Applebaum's article.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
The piece, which suggests Trump is adopting the language of some of the 20th century's most infamous leaders, has been met with ridicule, particularly from pro-Trump figures and supporters online. Many have also pointed out Applebaum’s affiliation with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which is often described as a CIA proxy.
The controversy stemmed from Applebaum’s assertion that Trump’s use of descriptors such as “vermin” for his opponents and phrases like “criminal illegal immigrants as animals” mirrors the dehumanizing rhetoric employed by historical dictators. The article's provocative headline, “Trump Is Speaking Like Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini,” drew a wave of criticism.
In response, the Trump campaign derided the article as “fake news by a third-rate media outlet,” while social media users openly mocked both Applebaum and The Atlantic. Journalist Glenn Greenwald was among the first to weigh in, remarking, “When you spend eight years calling a person every bad name you can think of – including Hitler – and it doesn’t work, so you desperately decide to call him all the bad names at once.”
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, similarly dismissed the op-ed, exclaiming, “I can’t stop laughing.” British conservative commentator Ben Kew also added his thoughts, jesting about The Atlantic's editorial process: “I love the idea that the editors sat around and thought, ‘Let’s come up with a headline for Anne Applebaum’s piece that will really scare the average voter.’”
Critics have been vocal about Applebaum’s ties to the NED, a government-funded organization with perceived connections to U.S. intelligence. Some, including journalist Mike Benz, accused her of promoting a pro-intelligence agenda. “Anne Applebaum is on the board of directors for the most notorious CIA cut-out in US history,” Benz remarked, implying that her articles frequently align with U.S. national security interests.
NED, funded by the U.S. State Department, has been involved in actions described by its founder, Carl Gershman, as what “was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA.” In recent times, the NED has played a role in the 2014 Maidan coup in Ukraine, organized meetings for anti-Beijing officials in Taiwan, and funded a UK-based group that aims to undermine right-wing American news outlets.
Applebaum's writings for The Atlantic often show a close alignment with U.S. national security perspectives. She has advocated for regime change in Russia, accused Trump of intending to “abandon” Ukraine and NATO, and criticized Musk for his perceived lack of support for Ukraine.
Despite her prominent role with NED, Applebaum has denied having any personal connections to the CIA. However, her critics frequently underscore the similarity between her views and U.S. foreign policy objectives.
The Atlantic has not yet issued a statement regarding the backlash against Applebaum's article.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
