Joel Grey likens Trump to Nazi regime in controversial op-ed
- Joel Grey's op-ed articulates concerns about authoritarianism and its parallels with historical events in Nazi Germany.
- He emphasizes the urgency not to ignore potential threats to democracy as evidenced by past underestimations by European Jews.
- The op-ed has sparked controversy about Trump's administration and its implications for American Jews despite his previous support for Israel.
In a New York Times op-ed published in late November 2024, actor Joel Grey articulated his concerns about the political climate in the United States under President-elect Donald Trump. Drawing parallels between Trump's second administration and the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany during the 1930s, Grey expressed fears that many Americans, especially those familiar with the fight against authoritarianism, feel disillusioned and powerless. He warned that the sense of security many might feel could echo the tragic underestimation of threat faced by Jews prior to World War II. The portrayal of a dangerous political atmosphere reflects a growing anxiety among citizens about the future of democracy and civil rights. Despite Trump's pro-Israel stance and support from a significant number of Jewish voters, including a historical share in New York, Grey's op-ed focuses on the risks of normalizing authoritarian behavior and urges readers not to turn away from these warnings.