'So were Mussolini and Mobutu': Scholar shreds media praise of Trump's performing skills

Historian and authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat laid into reporters for their obsessive fixation on President Joe Biden's health, arguing they should be more concerned with former President Donald Trump's strongman plans.

Her post on X came in response to a New Yorker article suggesting that Biden's cabinet should invoke the 25th Amendment to remove him from office.

"I guess no one cares that Biden has overseen an economic boom, drop in crime, betterment of everyday life for millions," wrote Ben-Ghiat. "I guess performance on stage is truly all that matters. Trump's a superb performer. So were Mussolini and Mobutu."

Ever since last week's presidential debate in Atlanta, where Biden visibly struggled with his energy onstage, media outlets and some Democratic lawmakers have been intensely scrutinizing the president for any signs his mental fitness is declining.

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A handful of Democrats have called for Biden to step down; however, most party officials and elected lawmakers continue at least publicly to offer firm support, and Biden reiterated at a July 4 speech that he has no plans to leave the race.

If he were to leave the race, the most likely person to step into the nomination would be Vice President Kamala Harris, who is already on the ticket and is the only person who would be able to still use the war chest the Biden campaign has raised.

At the same time, commenters on social media, like Ben-Ghiat, have excoriated the press for a week of nonstop coverage over the issue, fearful that Trump is getting a pass from voters for his constant threats to enact dictatorial policies, and that not enough attention is being given to Project 2025, the extreme proposal by the Heritage Foundation to tear down the civil service and turn the executive branch into an army of party loyalists for the GOP.

Ben-Ghiat's comment was met with both praise and backlash.

"It's insane how divorced this mob is from actual policy outcomes" replied X user @emptywheel. "These people care not a whit about politics making people's lives better."

“'Economic boom' = prices to infinity lol," rebutted X user Tom Elliott.

"Oh," replied X user Thinking Monk, referencing reports of a developing cease fire agreement in Gaza, based on a Biden proposal from May. "And he probably fixed the Middle East today."