GOP strategist sets off historian after complaining about White House 'fascist' label

New York University professor and historian Timothy Naftali scolded GOP strategist Lance Trover Saturday on CNN after being falsely accused of calling President Donald Trump a “fascist,” a debate centered around heated rhetoric in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing.

“I think the Democrats and Republicans both have to stop using apocalyptic language; when you use apocalyptic language, you're basically saying if the other side wins, it's over,” Naftali said, speaking on CNN’s “Table for Five.” “In other words, you're saying the stakes are so high, you should contemplate the kind of actions that we don't want people to contemplate.”

Much has been said in recent days over heated political rhetoric coming from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers in the wake of Kirk’s assassination on Wednesday. After being apprehended by law enforcement Friday, the suspected shooter was found to have engraved anti-fascist messages on bullet casings, messages that many Republicans have used to pin Kirk’s killing on Democrats’ rhetoric.

“I have seen it myself: elements of authoritarianism and of the authoritarian approach to government, which seem to emanate from the current White House... I think as an analyst you are responsible to say that,” Naftali said, before being cut off by Trover.

“So he's a fascist?” Trover interjected. “Say it! That's what you're basically saying!”

Naftali fiercely rejected Trover’s accusation, attempting to shout over Trover’s claims in a fiery exchange.

“Lance! My father survived a pogrom in Bucharest, [Romania] in World War II; I am very, very careful about how I use the term 'Nazism,’” Naftali said.

“Authoritarianism is something that can exist outside of the genocidal work of the Nazis. It is perfectly appropriate as an analyst to talk about authoritarian regimes, regimes that speak of elections in a way that suggests they don't really want them to happen, or that the ones that go the wrong way were actually flawed.”

“Please, Lance, today of all days, let us not worry about what people have called one side.”