Rep. Jim Clyburn to Voters: ‘Don’t Let America Become Germany in the 1930s’
At a recent town hall in his home state of South Carolina, longtime Rep. Jim Clyburn didn’t mince words. With political division deepening, the Democratic leader offered a sobering historical parallel: Germany in the 1930s.
“I want you to pray for this country,” Clyburn said, according to reports. “That we will not allow ourselves to go the way of Germany.”
The warning was directed not just at his constituents, but at a broader American public he believes is underestimating the threat of rising authoritarianism. Without naming specific politicians, Clyburn made clear that he sees disturbing echoes of fascist regimes in the rhetoric and policies currently gaining traction across the country.
“There’s nothing new in what’s going on in America today,” he said, referencing tactics used by Hitler to rise to power—exploiting fear, spreading misinformation, and chipping away at democratic norms.
Clyburn, a high-ranking House Democrat and one of the most influential Black lawmakers in U.S. history, made the remarks in response to an audience question about the fate of democracy in today’s hyperpolarized landscape. He urged attendees to remain vigilant and
“Democracy doesn’t fail overnight,” he said. “It erodes slowly—speech by speech, law by law, lie by lie.”
The congressman’s comments come as many political observers raise similar concerns about voter suppression efforts, the undermining of election integrity, and the normalization of extremist ideologies.
Clyburn’s call to action was clear: “We’ve seen this before. And if we’re not careful, we’ll see it again.”
