The final week of the US Presidential election is heating up, with both sides employing increasingly aggressive tactics. In a rally in Georgia, Republican candidate Donald Trump fired back at accusations of authoritarianism and fascism leveled by his opponents, including Vice President Kamala Harris. He vehemently denied being a Nazi, stating, “The newest line from Kamala and her campaign is that everyone who isn’t voting for her is a Nazi. I’m not a Nazi. I’m the opposite of a Nazi.”
Meanwhile, the appearance of Elon Musk at Trump’s rally in Madison Square Garden wearing a striking ‘Make America Great Again’ hat embroidered with blackletter font sparked controversy. Blackletter, often associated with heavy metal band logos, has a history deeply intertwined with German folk style and the Bible. However, a specific variant, Fraktur, was used in Nazi propaganda and even in Adolf Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf.’ While Fraktur fell out of favor after rumors suggested a Jewish individual created it, many still view it as a potent symbol of Nazi ideology.
This connection prompted immediate reactions on social media, with users highlighting the historical association of the font. One user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote, “Elon posted his MAGA hat, which uses the Fraktur font, popular in nazi Germany. He wore this at a rally meant to evoke the 1939 nazi rally at Madison Square Garden.” Others expressed similar concerns, drawing a parallel between Musk’s hat choice and the political views he publicly espouses.
This incident highlights the escalating polarization and heated rhetoric surrounding the US election. While Trump focuses on countering accusations of extremism, Musk’s choice of hat underlines the potential for unintended consequences in a politically charged environment. As early voting continues, with over 47 million Americans already casting their ballots, the election is poised to be one of the most closely watched and potentially controversial in recent history.
