https://public.websites.umich.edu/~rsc/Editorials/fascism.ht...
In this case, we can recognize: "11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts".
1. cult of tradition
2. rejection of modernism
3. action for action’s sake
4. disagreement is treason
5. fear of difference
6. appeal to a frustrated middle class
7. obsession with a plot
8. the enemies are at the same time too strong and too weak.
9. pacifism is trafficking with the enemy.
10. contempt for the weak
11. everybody is educated to become a hero
12. machismo - both disdain for women and intolerance and condemnation of nonstandard sexual habits, from chastity to homosexuality,[...] Since even sex is a difficult game to play, the Ur-Fascist hero tends to play with weapons
13. selective populism
14. Newspeak
These are only his major points of his speach in 1995. The speach is at the moment available here: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1995/06/22/ur-fascism/
If you make the opposing opinion illegal (the US has not, but the trend is obviously there), don't be surprised if people with the opposing opinion do something about it. The current administration is a hacked mess, of course, but the universities got themselves into it with things like requiring "diversity statements". What if you want to be a professor but you don't think that implementing progressive diversity is important? Too bad, no choice. If a private Christian or a Muslim university requires a statement of faith, well, it's kind of in the name. But a State-funded university that requires a "statement of faith" implementing a progressive political policy, seems like a clear overreach.
I am not defending the Trump administration, which may very well contain fascist elements. But don't go crying "fascist!" and ignore the other side's self-righteous totalitarianism.
See, that's the core difference. One side wants to leave people free to do as they please. The other side wants to control what the first does.
Yes, there are exceptions, on both sides. But they're this, exceptions.