Picking a minority group to demonize is a pretty big meme with fascists. As is imperialism.

No country ever just stumbled into fascism. It's a slow boil. Calling the press the enemy of the people. Calling all press that is in any way negative towards the leadership fake. The complete loss of the power of oversight by congress - The DOJ is not complying with oversight, IRS is not complying with oversight, McConnell is blocking house oversight. SDNY has outstanding charges on the Trump foundation but cannot indict because all the major players have positions in the white house. This is authoritarianism. The mechanics that are supposed to keep a corrupt leader in check are in place, but they are not working because the crucial positions are compromised.