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Crockett dismisses critics who think 'Hitler' and 'fascist' comparisons contribute to political violence

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  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, September 17th 2025 at 21:46 GMT by Fox News
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Fox News Host John Crockett Dismisses Critics Who Say Hitler‑Fascist Comparisons Contribute to Political Violence

On Thursday, Fox News anchor John Crockett took to his own platform to rebuke a wave of criticism that his recent use of Hitler‑fascist imagery has “contributed to political violence.” The comments came after a segment on the network in which Crockett likened certain far‑right extremist tactics to the policies of the Nazi regime—a comparison that many journalists, scholars, and members of the public said inflamed tensions and, in some cases, helped justify violent acts. In a statement posted on his Facebook page and echoed on the Fox News website, Crockett insisted that his remarks were not only historically accurate but necessary to protect the nation from an ever‑growing threat.

The Original Allegations

Crockett’s remarks were made in the context of a broader discussion about the January 6 insurrection and the continuing rise of white‑nationalist and anti‑immigrant groups. In a 5‑minute segment, he argued that the “militant” rhetoric of a new wave of extremist factions was reminiscent of the early 1930s Nazi Party’s use of mass rallies and coordinated violence to seize power. “You don’t have to go far to see the parallels,” Crockett said. “When a group starts talking about taking back our country and using the law to do it, that’s the same language we saw in Hitler’s speeches.”

The segment was immediately met with backlash. The Washington Post’s editorials, a group of historians from the Center for Historical Inquiry, and even the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called the comparison “dangerously misleading.” They argued that equating contemporary political actors with a totalitarian regime could normalize extremist ideology and, in some cases, be used as a propaganda tool by fringe groups to justify acts of violence.

Crockett was not the only Fox News personality to face criticism. A link within the original Fox News article referenced a March 2024 piece by political commentator Sarah Reid, who warned that “using Hitler as a shorthand for ‘dangerous’ rhetoric is a dangerous shortcut that risks creating a permissive climate for violence.” That article, in turn, was cited in a response from a former FBI agent who specialized in extremist threat assessment.

Crockett’s Defense

In his response, Crockett said the criticism was “tied to political correctness, a fear that the right can’t be honest about the danger posed by the left.” He wrote, “If you can’t call out the threat of fascist groups when it is present, then you’re enabling it.”

Crockett defended the historical accuracy of his analogy by pointing to the “structural similarities” between the Nazi rise and contemporary extremist movements: the use of propaganda, the cultivation of a loyal “cult” of the leader, and the willingness to use intimidation and violence. “Hitler didn’t emerge from a vacuum,” he noted. “He used the same political machinery that we see in these modern extremist networks.”

Crockett also claimed that his language was meant to “wake people up” rather than to “glorify” or “legitimize” extremist ideology. “The point is to say, ‘Look, this is happening in our country. It’s not fiction.’” He argued that by using a stark, historically charged comparison, he was offering viewers a clearer perspective on the stakes.

In a linked article—“The Role of Extremist Rhetoric in Political Violence,” published by the Center for Terrorist Threat Analysis—Crockett cited data showing that extremist groups are more likely to adopt symbolic language that references historical atrocities to build a sense of legitimacy. The report concluded that “when commentators use such comparisons, they can inadvertently give those groups a rhetorical tool that they can deploy to justify violent acts.”

Reactions from the Political Spectrum

The criticism from left‑wing analysts was swift. A video posted on YouTube by “Academic Integrity Network” featured a panel of scholars from the University of Chicago and Columbia University who argued that using Nazi comparisons “erases the uniqueness of the Holocaust.” The panel also said the comparison could be used by extremist groups themselves, as seen on the fringe site “White Power Web.” “The extremist groups we see on the left also use Hitler references,” one scholar noted. “It’s a dangerous echo chamber.”

On the right, however, many Fox News viewers praised Crockett. A 4‑minute TikTok clip—linked from the Fox News article—shows a user chanting, “I hate Hitler, I’m not a fascist, but if we don’t say this, we’re letting the left win.” The clip amassed over 120,000 views within 24 hours. In the comments, several Fox News regulars wrote, “We need to call out the fascists. It’s the only way.”

The ACLU’s statement on the matter also noted that “the use of extremist terminology can provide a rallying point for those already inclined to commit violence.” They called for a “balanced approach” that would call out extremist rhetoric without providing it with an outlet.

Looking Forward: The Implications for Media Coverage

Fox News has a long-standing editorial policy that “does not condone extremist content or extremist ideology.” In a response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the network explained that it has a “Standards & Practices” team that reviews on‑air content for extremist references. Despite that, critics argue that the line is blurry when a commentator uses extremist history as a comparison, especially when the target audience is largely sympathetic to that perspective.

The situation highlights an ongoing debate about how the media should discuss extremist movements: should the use of historical analogues help inform viewers about the dangers, or does it risk providing extremist rhetoric with a useful label that can be used to justify violence? Many scholars—such as Dr. Elizabeth Keller of the University of Michigan, who wrote a book on “Historical Analogy in Modern Politics”—argue that context matters, but the potential for misinterpretation is high.

In the end, John Crockett’s dismissal of the criticism reflects a broader trend in right‑leaning media: a willingness to employ stark, historically charged comparisons as a rhetorical device to draw attention to perceived threats. Whether such comparisons serve the public interest or merely inflame already polarized audiences remains a contentious question—one that Fox News and the broader media community will likely grapple with for years to come.