Fascism in the United States

Fascism in the United States is an expression of fascist political ideology that dates back over a century in the United States, with roots in white supremacy, white nationalism, nativism, xenophobia and violent far-right political extremism. Although it has received less scholarly attention than fascism in Europe, particularly Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, scholars say that far-right authoritarian movements have been a part of the politics of the United States for a long time.

Scholars believe that early 20th-century groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and domestic proto-fascist organizations that existed during the Great Depression were the originators of fascism in the U.S. These groups flourished during periods of social and political unrest. Alongside homegrown movements, German-backed political organizations worked to influence U.S. public opinion towards the Nazi cause during World War II. After the U.S.'s formal declaration of war against Germany, the U.S. Treasury Department raided the German American Bund's headquarters and arrested its leaders. Both during and after World War II, Italian anti-fascist activists and other anti-fascist groups played a role in confronting these ideologies. Some ideologies of American fascist, factions include Christian nationalism, Christian supremacy, homophobia, antisemitism and Nazism.

Events such as the 2017 Charlottesville rally have exposed the persistence of racism, antisemitism, and white supremacy within U.S. society. The resurgence of fascist rhetoric in contemporary U.S. politics, particularly under the administration of President Donald Trump, has highlighted the persistence of far-right ideologies, and it has also rekindled questions and debates about the history of fascism in the United States.