In Washington, as more Republican governors and state legislatures pass laws restricting LGBTQ+ rights, silencing dissent, and banning books, observers note that the GOP is coming remarkably close to achieving what many would call “Nazi similarity.” They emphasize “remarkably close” because the United States has not yet done the one key thing: systematically prevent an entire class of people from entering public office based on identity. But the gap isn’t large.
The GOP insists this is not Nazi Germany. And technically, it is not. In Nazi Germany, from 1933 through its first six years, hundreds of decrees regulated all aspects of Jewish life—not matters of gender expression or ideology. Still, several Republican-controlled states have passed laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors, banning or limiting abortions, and limiting who may speak on state legislative floors. The similarities are uncanny, if you squint.
For example: as of early 2025, 23 U.S. states have adopted laws or policies that ban or severely limit gender-affirming care for minors. In Kansas, the GOP legislature overrode the governor’s veto to ban hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and surgical transition for minors. Missouri passed SB 49, the “SAFE Act,” which bans several gender-affirming medical procedures for those under 18. Idaho’s laws prohibit use of public funds for gender-affirming care.
Another case: in Montana, Rep. Zooey Zephyr, the first openly transgender state legislator in Montana, was barred from speaking on the legislature floor after she refused to apologize for saying lawmakers pushing bans on gender-affirming care would have “blood on their hands.” She was prohibited from attending or speaking floor sessions for much of 2023. Zephyr was re-elected, allowing her to return when the legislature reconvenes.
The GOP says these restrictions are different from what Nazis did. They note that the Nazis banned Jews from legislatures and public life because Jews were not considered citizens in many domains; in many cases, Jews were never allowed to vote or serve. U.S. states have not done that quite yet. But contemporary legislation has banned or restricted care based on gender identity (not birth religion), and silenced certain voices within legislatures or public settings.
On books: Laws in several states (Florida, Texas, South Carolina, among others) have led to hundreds of book bans or removals, often targeting discussions of race or LGBTQ+ topics. Republicans in these states argue that certain books are inappropriate or ideologically biased, and want them taken off library shelves or school reading lists. This is not identical to Nazi book burnings in 1933, when large public burnings were held with tens of thousands watching. But the impulse—to control what citizens, especially young citizens, can read—is strikingly parallel.
In sum: the GOP has not yet banned an entire class (e.g. based on religion or ethnicity) from holding office, nor has it staged public book burnings (so far). But it has restricted access to medical care for a protected class (trans youth), expelled or silenced legislators, banned books, and passed laws penalizing speech or identity. These are moves that, in isolation, might seem tolerable to some; together, they constitute a mosaic of suppression that looks an awful lot like Nazi Germany—except, for the moment, missing a few pieces.
