1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

The Beer Hall Putsch was a failed coup attempt in 1923 by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party to seize power in Munich, Germany. While vastly different in magnitude, there are concerning parallars between Trump's tactics and this event that attempted to undermine democracy through force. Both involved enflaming nationalist sentiment, making false claims about election fraud, and mobilizing supporters to disrupt the lawful transfer of power. Trump's policies have included restricting immigration, pulling out of international agreements, pursuing protectionist trade policies, and downplaying or denying threats like racism and climate change. Hitler and the Nazis failed in their putsch, but it revealed their undemocratic, authoritarian aims. We must learn from history and resolutely defend democratic institutions and the rule of law against any extralegal efforts to overturn free and fair elections, including Trump's false claims of fraud in the 2020 election. Preserving democracy requires vigilance against forces that would subvert it through violence, deceit, or authoritarian policies.