It’s a label that used to be political kryptonite amongst the mainstream American polity, a word that evokes grainy footage of goose-stepping European troops, racist strongman dictators, and swastikas.

History’s two most famous fascists were Nazi chief Adolf Hitler in Germany and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. Known as Il Duce, or “the duke,” Mussolini headed the National Fascist Party, which was symbolized by an eagle clutching a fasces — a bundle of rods with an axe among them.

At a town hall with undecided voters, the vice president said she agrees with Donald Trump's former chief of staff's claim that Trump is a fascist.