MSNBC’s Mehdi Hasan, on his Sunday night show, criticized the media for “downplaying” the “fascism” of Italy’s newly elected Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The leader of the right-wing party, the Brothers of Italy, won her country’s national elections on September 25, becoming the first female prime minister in Italy’s history.
Hasan lamented how “depressing” it was that the media focused on Meloni’s historic victory rather than her party’s “fascist roots”.
“What has been so depressing is how much the, unquoted, liberal media, the mainstream media, ‘the MSM’ give Meloni a pass or downplay her fascist roots and her party and focus more on the fact that she is female is, and less on the fact that it’s, you know, fascist. It was deeply, deeply depressing to see,” he complained.
Giorgia Meloni, leader of the Brothers of Italy party, takes a selfie during a rally in Duomo Square ahead of the September 25 early elections in Milan, Italy, September 11, 2022. Portal/Flavio Lo Scalzo/File Photo (Portal/ Flavio Lo Scalzo)
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The Liberal presenter continued reading what he perceived as soft takes from The New York Times, Washington Post, Politico Europe and Financial Times to support his argument.
Hasan read a Politico Europe tweet about Meloni’s political activism as a teenager and said sarcastically: “Wow. Forget fascism, focus on the inspiration there!”
After reading a headline from The Times declaring that Meloni is not a “bully” and another from The Atlantic that her election was not a “return to fascism,” Hasan continued to gravitate towards the liberal media overthrow.
“Have you noticed a trend yet? It’s not as bad as you think it is. That’s not really fascism. Stop the exaggeration and hysteria!” he scoffed.
The leader of the Brothers of Italy Giorgia Meloni addresses the media at her party’s polling station in Rome early Monday, September 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
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However, several US media outlets spent the morning after Meloni’s alleged victory comparing her to Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
A CNN story sounded the alarm with the headline: “Giorgia Meloni claims victory to become Italy’s most far-right PM since Mussolini.”
MSNBC, Variety, NBC News, Politico and The Washington Post also made headlines, warning that Meloni’s victory heralds a return to becoming the “far right” leader since Mussolini.
The comparison was repeated on the radio news as well.
On CBS Mornings, co-host Tony Dukoupil said the new Italian prime minister “rejects the label” of fascism while embracing some of its symbols, referring to her party’s slogan “God, Country and Family” and that Flame symbol on the party flag.
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Kristine Parks is Associate Editor at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].