Adolf Hitler’s rise to power involved the support of various individuals and groups who later found themselves sidelined, betrayed, or purged once he consolidated power. Here are notable examples:
1. The SA (Sturmabteilung) and the Night of the Long Knives (1934)
- The SA, led by Ernst Röhm, played a crucial role in Hitler’s rise by using intimidation, violence, and propaganda to suppress opposition and gain support for the Nazi Party.
- After coming to power, Hitler viewed the SA as a threat to his authority, especially because Röhm advocated for a “second revolution” that included merging the SA with the German army, which alarmed military and conservative elites.
- In June 1934, during the “Night of the Long Knives,” Hitler ordered the execution of Röhm and many SA leaders, effectively neutralizing the SA’s power and securing the allegiance of the German military and conservative establishment.
2. Gregor Strasser and the Socialist Wing of the Nazi Party
- Gregor Strasser represented the socialist-leaning faction of the Nazi Party, which appealed to workers and promoted economic reforms that clashed with Hitler’s vision of securing support from industrialists and conservative elites.
- Strasser fell out of favor with Hitler in the early 1930s and was ultimately executed during the Night of the Long Knives, marking Hitler’s rejection of the socialist elements within his movement.
3. The Catholic Church and the Concordat
- Before coming to power, Hitler sought to reassure the Catholic Church by signing the Reichskonkordat in 1933, promising to respect Church autonomy in exchange for political neutrality.
- Once in power, Hitler systematically undermined the Church, restricting religious education, dissolving Catholic organizations, and persecuting clergy who opposed the regime.
4. The German Industrialists and Business Leaders
- Many industrialists supported Hitler, believing he would crush communism and labor movements.
- However, once in power, Hitler’s regime took significant control over private industries through policies like the Four-Year Plan, reducing business leaders’ autonomy and compelling them to align their operations with Nazi goals.
5. The German Military Leadership
- Initially, the military supported Hitler due to his promises to rebuild the armed forces and reverse the Treaty of Versailles.
- As Hitler consolidated control, he sidelined or eliminated military leaders who resisted his strategies or ambitions, such as General Werner von Fritsch, who was falsely accused of scandal and removed from his position in 1938.
6. Von Papen and Conservative Politicians
- Franz von Papen and other conservative elites helped Hitler become Chancellor in 1933, believing they could control him.
- Once in power, Hitler quickly marginalized von Papen and eliminated his influence, culminating in the assassination of von Papen’s associates during the Night of the Long Knives.
These betrayals and purges illustrate Hitler’s ruthless consolidation of power, demonstrating how he used and discarded allies to achieve his totalitarian goals.
Donald Trump’s political rise also included instances where he distanced himself from, criticized, or alienated individuals and groups who had supported him during his 2016 presidential campaign or early presidency. Here are some notable examples:
1. Jeff Sessions
- Role: Sessions was an early and prominent supporter of Trump, becoming one of the first U.S. Senators to endorse him in 2016.
- Betrayal: As Attorney General, Sessions recused himself from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, which angered Trump. Trump repeatedly criticized Sessions publicly and on Twitter, ultimately endorsing his opponent when Sessions ran for his old Senate seat in Alabama in 2020.
2. Steve Bannon
- Role: Bannon was a key strategist in Trump’s 2016 campaign and served as Chief Strategist in the White House. He was instrumental in shaping the administration’s nationalist and populist policies.
- Betrayal: Bannon fell out of favor after being quoted in Michael Wolff’s book Fire and Fury, where he made critical remarks about Trump’s family. Trump responded by calling Bannon “Sloppy Steve” and accusing him of having “lost his mind.”
3. Michael Cohen
- Role: Trump’s longtime personal attorney and fixer, Cohen played a critical role in handling legal and PR issues, including paying hush money to silence allegations against Trump during the 2016 campaign.
- Betrayal: After the FBI raided Cohen’s offices, Trump distanced himself, calling Cohen a “weak person.” Cohen later cooperated with federal investigators and testified against Trump before Congress, labeling him a “conman.”
4. Chris Christie
- Role: The former New Jersey governor was an early supporter and helped prepare Trump for debates during the 2016 campaign.
- Betrayal: Despite his loyalty, Christie was passed over for key roles in the administration, including Attorney General, reportedly due to Jared Kushner’s influence (stemming from Christie’s past prosecution of Kushner’s father). Christie later became a vocal critic of Trump’s election denialism.
5. Anthony Scaramucci
- Role: A supporter during the campaign, Scaramucci was briefly appointed White House Communications Director.
- Betrayal: After being fired just 10 days into the role, Scaramucci became a sharp critic of Trump, prompting Trump to ridicule him publicly and on social media.
6. Rex Tillerson
- Role: Trump appointed Tillerson as Secretary of State, praising his leadership as ExxonMobil CEO.
- Betrayal: The relationship soured as Tillerson reportedly called Trump a “moron” during private meetings. Trump eventually fired him via Twitter, later disparaging him as “dumb as a rock.”
7. Mike Pence
- Role: Pence was Trump’s loyal Vice President and a key figure in rallying evangelical Christian support during the 2016 campaign.
- Betrayal: Trump turned on Pence after he refused to overturn the 2020 election results during the certification process on January 6, 2021. Trump publicly criticized Pence, and his supporters chanted threats against Pence during the Capitol riot.
8. Reince Priebus
- Role: As Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Priebus helped unify the GOP behind Trump in 2016 and served as Trump’s first Chief of Staff.
- Betrayal: Priebus was pushed out of the White House just six months into the administration, with Trump reportedly mocking him for his perceived ineffectiveness.
9. The Lincoln Project Co-Founders
- Role: While not traditional “supporters,” several founders of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, including figures like George Conway and Rick Wilson, were once influential GOP operatives who initially backed Trump or Republican unity.
- Betrayal: Their public criticisms of Trump’s actions led him to attack them as “RINOs” (Republicans in Name Only) and accuse them of working against conservative values.
These examples illustrate Trump’s willingness to turn on allies when their actions or criticisms were perceived as disloyal or when they ceased to serve his political interests. This pattern mirrors broader trends in politics where loyalty is often conditional and transactional.
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