They all have things in common, but they are not identical. In classic 1930s fascism, not all the fascist states of Europe (Spain, Italy, Portugal, etc) followed the example of the NAZIs. You don’t need grotesque racial superiority theories or death camps to join that club.

The distinctions are only of degree, not of kind. Don’t let the absence of crematoria, or annexations or foreign invasions suggest we’re not dealing with fascism here. What we have under Trump is not a NAZI-style Reich, its not even likely to evolve into anything remotely resembling it either. But it is fascism nonetheless. The authoritarianism is there, the scapegoating is there, the “us vs them” mentality, along with the militarism, nationalism, nativism, sense of patriotic exceptionalism, and the tendency to reflexively characterize any objection or resistance as “socialism”. And in America, lets not forget to add religious fundamentalism and bigotry to the mix. Of course, there is that cult of the leader/Fuhrer, as well, He Who Can Do No Wrong.

Americans like to think of themselves as rugged individualists, freethinkers, independent. But they’re not. Too many love to be bossed around by tough guys, and to pass it on down to their own subordinates. They’ve all been conned into thinking that if they meekly submit to being abused on the job, someday they’ll be rewarded by timid employees of their own they can push around. Look at our cultural heroes, look at the pattern that emerges; tough-love types like drill sargents, football coaches, steely-eyed no-nonsense executives, Ayn Rand entrepreneurs and Dirty Harry cops. The John Wayne archetype. The Joe Arpaio prototype, The Donald Trump stereotype. We love our bullies, we know they’ll protect us.

You know what I mean, and if you don’t, you’re probably a fascist too.