Albright: Trump Could Be Like Hitler, Mussolini Because They Were Also Elected

President Trump could very well end up being another Hitler or Mussolini, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Tuesday.

Albright, who just published a book, "Fascism: A Warning," which argues America could lapse into a fascist state under Trump, laid out her case during an appearance on "The View." 

"The reason I wrote the book is really historical in terms of what happened in other countries," the former diplomat explained. The part that I have to say freaked me out is that in looking at Mussolini and Hitler and now what’s happened in Hungary and Turkey and Poland and Philippines and Venezuela, these people were all elected, or they were put in constitutionally."

And like in Nazi Germany, Trump was likewise democratically elected.

"Mussolini had this terrific statement which was that if you consolidate power by plucking a chicken one feather at a time, people don’t notice," she continued. "And so it is those steps and it’s the normalization, frankly, of the kinds of things that are going on now that made me want to do a warning." 

These "feathers," she said, are things like attacking the media, "a lack of respect for democratic institutions, thinking that you are above the law, using rallies and propaganda to get people excited and even move to violence, not respecting the views of others."

Here's a transcript of the exchange: 

HAINES: “We want to talk about your book. So, ‘Fascism: A Warning,’ you write, ‘Some may view this book and its title as alarmist, good.’ That’s your quote. Coming from you, that should scare a lot of people. Are you actually afraid that America could become a fascist nation?”
ALBRIGHT: “Well, I’m worried about some of the steps that take place. The reason I wrote the book is really historical in terms of what happened in other countries. The part that I have to say freaked me out is that in looking at Mussolini and Hitler and now what’s happened in Hungary and Turkey and Poland and Philippines and Venezuela, these people were all elected, or they were put in constitutionally. And only in the communist countries have there been revolutions to put the people in. And then Mussolini had this terrific statement which was that if you consolidate power by plucking a chicken one feather at a time, people don’t notice. And so it is those steps and it’s the normalization, frankly, of the kinds of things that are going on now that made me want to do a warning.”
BEHAR: “And the attack on the press.”
ALBRIGHT: “Well, and that’s exactly one of them. Part of it is an attack on the free press, a lack of respect for democratic institutions, thinking that you are above the law, using rallies and propaganda to get people excited and even move to violence, not respecting the views of others. Those are the kinds of feathers, frankly.”
(Applause)
GOLDBERG: “I don’t suppose you would consider running, huh? Our thanks to Madeline Albright. Her book, ‘Fascism: A Warning’ is available now. And you know what, y’all? You’re going home with a copy.”
(Cheering and Applause)