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Donald Trump's acting more "African" again.
Back when he was the new host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," South Africa-born comedian Trevor Noah notably disagreed with those who thought then-rising presidential candidate Donald Trump was not "presidential" enough.
"For me, as an African," said Noah, "there's just something familiar about Trump that makes me feel at home."
He then compared Trump sound bites with some African despots on such topics as immigration, health care and his own self-regard.
On immigration, for example, Trump said, "When Mexico sends its people, they're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists, and some I presume are good people."
Similarly, South African President Jacob Zuma linked the influx of illegal migrants to "crime, unfair business practices, drugs," while assuring us it was "not true that all foreign nationals are involved in criminal activities. There are some who are, but not all of them."
Gee, thanks. Noah correctly described Zuma's remarks as "a light xenophobia -- with just a dash of diplomacy."
But fast forward: not even a dash of diplomacy softens the bracing sound of Trump's recent episodes of letting his inner Hitler out.
In a speech on Veterans Day, of all days, in Claremont, New Hampshire, he called his political opponents and critics "vermin" and suggested they pose a greater threat to the United States than such rivals as Russia, China or North Korea.
"We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country that lie and steal and cheat on elections," Trump said, repeating his debunked claims that the 2020 election was stolen. "They'll do anything, whether legally or illegally, to destroy America and to destroy the American Dream."
Trump went on to state: "The threat from outside forces is far less sinister, dangerous and grave than the threat from within. Our threat is from within. Because if you have a capable, competent, smart, tough leader, Russia, China, North Korea, they're not going to want to play with us."
Continuing his recent turn to messages of vengeance and grievance, Trump added some fire to his defiance by calling himself a "very proud election denier" and once again decrying his legal entanglements, though of course they're largely of his own making.
In the past, I have said and written that, no matter how angry we may be, we should refrain from references to Hitler except when referring to one man --Adolf Hitler.
But these days Trump increasingly shows an uncanny facility for attracting the comparison himself, all in the interest of firing up crowds of supporters who see him as being on their side, no matter the repercussions for those who are not.