President Donald Trump's actions like a 'military coup', says expert on fascism

'From their actions and pronouncements, we cannot exclude an intention to carry out a type of coup'

US President Donald Trump speaks as he meets with small business leaders in the Roosevelt Room at the White House (AFP/Getty)

Donald Trump’s actions during his first fortnight as President are like those of a coup, a historian of fascism has warned.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat, professor of history and Italian studies at New York University, is the author of “Italian Facism’s Empire Cinema” and an expert on fascist history. In a op-ed for CNN, she has warned of the Trump administration: “From their actions and pronouncements, we cannot exclude an intention to carry out a type of coup.”

She explains: “Many may raise their eyebrows at my use of this word, which brings to mind military juntas in faraway countries who use violence and the element of surprise to gain power. Our situation is different.

"Trump gained power legally but this week has provided many indications that his inner circle intends to shock or strike at the system, using the resulting spaces of chaos and flux to create a kind of government within the government: one beholden only to the chief executive.”

Ms Ben-Ghiat continues: “Second is the unleashing of the political purges that authoritarians so love.

"Some purges are punitive (say the firing of acting Attorney General Sally Yates because she defied Trump's immigration order) and some pre-emptive (the expulsion of senior State Department staff) but the effect is to cleanse the government of troublemakers and leave a power vacuum to be filled with loyalists — or not filled at all, for added disruption of the state bureaucracy.”

During his first fortnight in the White House, Mr Trump has spearheaded many controversial actions. One of his first executive orders was to reinstate the Global Gag Rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy, barring any government funding for international aid organisations which give women advice about abortions.

He subsequently announced a broad travel ban, issued by a further executive order. This ended admission of refugees, as well as barring immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries.

The ban has been criticised for allegedly unfairly targeting Muslims. However, Mr Trump has insisted the measure is necessary in order to ensure national security and defend against terrorism.

Acting attorney general Sally Yates protested the ban, saying she would not ask Justice Department lawyers to defend it. Mr Trump promptly terminated her employment.

Following the controversy of his first days in office, counsellor to the President, Kellyanne Conway, defended him, tweeting: “Get used to it. [President Trump] is a man of action and impact. Promises made, promises kept. Shock to the system. And he’s just getting started.”