I do make that analogy because I think it objectively speaking has merit. How close to fascism Trump and his movement is can be debated. But what cannot be debated is that Trump represents political extremism on many levels not normally seen in developed democratices.
The point of my writing is partly to highlight the fact that Sweden Democrats do in fact not represent anything quite as radical and dangerous as Trump did to America. That is only partially because of their ideology but more importantly because of the Swedish political system which simply didn't give the Sweden Democrats the kind of power Trump was handed.
There is not culture war in Sweden in the same was as in the US. Nor anything like FOX News or a general strong dislike of the political left among the right. Hence building a kind of Trumpian mass movement isn't really possible in Sweden at the moment.
I have followed US politics since the Ronald Reagan days, and I can remember in particular during the Bill Clinton days how ideologically divided the US was. Newt Gingrish who quite recklessly pushed Republican politics. This stuff has been a long time in the making in the US and is built upon decades of resentment between the American left and right. Swedish politics doesn't have anything comparable.
Jimmie Åkesson is much more of a regular politican than Donald Trump. Donald Trump is nothing like what we have seen before. He is a downright crook, swindler and dangerous demagogue advocating violence and pushing the January 6th insurrection. From my side of the pond, the surprise in regards to Trump is actually more that he was ever allowed to be President and that he isn't already sentenced.
There is noway a Nordic minister, certainly not a prime minister could have gotten away with so much wrongdoing as Donald Trump without ending up behind bars. Jimmie Åkesson is really an altar boy compared to Donald Trump.
I find it more scary that Trump behavior has been normalized in the US, and that people think of him as some sort of normal legitimate political candate.
That you find the raid on Mar a Lago "ridiculous" I find puzzling. He had large number of stolen top secret documents. Highly illegal activity. Why should Trump be allowed to break the law yet again?
I continue to be puzzled by how so Americans seem to think Trump is above the law. Prosecuting somebody for actual serious crimes isn't partisan or hysterical. It is to actually follow the law of the land.
