In 1995, the late Umberto Eco wrote a brief essay in the New York Review of Books describing 14 defining qualities of fascism. Titled Ur-Fascism, the essay sought to outline a heuristic, if you will, by which nationalism, authoritarianism, anti-intellectualism, and xenophobia interact to create the perfect storm we recognize from our history books as coming to a boiling point in Europe in the 1930s.

Donald Trump, real estate tycoon, television star, and erstwhile caudillo, frequently takes to Twitter to speak directly to his followers, under the handle @realDonaldTrump. Over 8.5 million people follow him, as he spouts a specific blend of nationalism, authoritarianism, anti-intellectualism, and xenophobia in his quest for the presidency.

The correlation speaks for itself.

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