The Billionaire Carmaker Who Paved The Road To Fascism
It might not be who you think
Quick, name the first car-making billionaire you can think of known for spreading conspiracies, influencing elections, harming people in need, and trying to reshape America in his own whitewashed image?
Sadly, you have options. Let’s rewind a century.
Industrialist Henry Ford didn’t invent American fascism, but he paved a smooth road for it. From the assembly line to authoritarianism, here’s the real legacy of the Michigan legend in seven points.
1. Fordlândia: The White Man’s Jungle Fantasy
In the spirit of all great colonizers, Ford was an early adopter of '“exploit now, apologize never.”
In 1928, Ford tried to build a God-fearing American town in the middle of the Amazon jungle. No jazz or alcohol allowed. Square dancing welcome. So basically, as soulless and joyless as whatever white supremacists imagine heaven will be like.
The auto tycoon hoped to create a rubber manufacturing empire and exploit as many “uncivilized” natives as possible, just like Jesus taught.
It failed spectacularly. He lost tons of money. Another white nationalist dream shattered.
2. He was the spiritual ancestor of QAnon
Ford bought The Dearborn Independent and turned it into a platform for antisemitic conspiracy theories. He printed and distributed The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a fabricated but influential hoax.
This creep mass-produced hate. He distributed a four-volume set of antisemitic screeds called The International Jew at Ford dealerships. Yes, you could get your state of the art vehicle and your racism all in one stop.
Basically, he built the Model T, then invented a pre-internet version of Fox News for QAnon grandpas.
3. Hitler Loved Him
Henry Ford is the only American mentioned favorably in Mein Kampf. In case you don’t know, that book was written by Adolf Hitler. Das Fuhrer even kept a portrait of the Michigan mogul in his office.
Ford later accepted the Grand Cross of the German Eagle from Nazi Germany. To put that in perspective, it would be like a modern-day billionaire buying an election for a sociopathic tyrant he believes is a pedophile. Hypothetically speaking.
4. The White Nationalist Cookbook
The assembly line innovator whipped up a strange stew of corporate hero-worship, sanitized history, and proto-fascist vibes. He staged elaborate pageants celebrating rugged individualism and idealized capitalism, complete with singing farmers and flag-waving children, all while promoting a worldview hostile to democracy, press freedom, and basically the things America is actually supposed to be.
He must’ve been absolutely aroused by squeaky tank wheels.
Ford’s patriotic performance parties didn’t last, yet the flavor lingers like a star-spangled fart in how some Americans still do historical cosplay and pine for a version of their country that never really existed.
Henry Ford is the only American mentioned favorably in Mein Kampf.
5. He Hated Unions and Crushed Dissent
Ford only cared about his rights, not his workers.
In 1937, he decided unions were the devil and should be defeated with fists, not facts. When a bunch of United Auto Workers showed up at Ford’s giant River Rouge plant to hand out leaflets like peaceful humans, Ford’s crack team of “security professionals” (read: thugs with necks the size of sedans) showed up to terrorize workers. His security chief Harry Bennet ran around like a supervisor for ICE mob boss. These bullies were called the Ford Security Department, and they went full WWE Smackdown.
The union guys got stomped. Photographers got punched. Cameras got “accidentally” smashed to pieces. All this occurred on an overpass, which is apparently the most dangerous place in America if you’re holding a pamphlet. It’s literally known as The Battle of the Overpass.
Here are some public domain images Ford couldn’t destroy. He wasn’t able to buy influence in the U.S. government as much once FDR got elected. His thugs violently attacked peaceful protestors for wanting protective rights. History shows how fascistic goons used to not even wear face coverings like cowards.
To recap: Ford paid well so workers wouldn’t quit then hired bullies to beat them if they ever asked for rights. This bold corporate strategy is known as exploitation “human capital optimization.”
6. Better Living Through Surveillance
Ford’s famed $5 workday wasn’t just generous. Those paychecks came with major strings and a side of corporate snooping.
His Sociological Department paid house calls to inspect workers’ homes for cleanliness, morality, and signs of proper “Americanization.”
Seriously. Gestapo much?
It was less about civic values and more about ensuring Ford-approved lifestyles, a dystopian blend of payroll and paternalism that blurred the line between employer and overlord.
He did popularize the idea of a “weekend” as one of the first major industrialists to institute a five day/8 hour workweek in 1926. Of course, it was also good for consumerism since more leisure meant more Saturdays buying stuff made by his friends. No shopping on the Lord’s day though. You know, because honoring God was so important to them.
7. He Nearly Ruined His Own Company
Ford was a control freak with a messiah complex. He built one of the most powerful industrial machines in history then nearly ran it into the ground with his paranoia, authoritarianism, and refusal to adapt. Under his leadership in the 1940s, the Ford Motor Company was about as stable as a flagpole made of meatloaf. Just another reminder that billionaires aren’t necessarily good managers or capable leaders.
The board finally intervened in 1945 and forced him to step down. His grandson Henry “The Deuce” Ford II took over.
The Deuce brought in a team of “Whiz Kids” who modernized the company, saved its finances, and got the company back on track as an industry competitor. Kinda like DOGE but actually competent and successful.
Restoring a Legacy
It took a lot of PR (and enough time to pass for witnesses to die of old age), but the ruthless villain’s name was finally restored. At least some good is being done in that name.
The Ford Foundation has spent the last several years funding actual human decency. While the Trump crowd has spent that time yelling about how DEI is a communist plot, the Ford Foundation is out there defending immigrant rights, particularly focusing on ending the criminalization of immigrants and opposing government funded child-snatching initiatives. They’ve committed significant funds to strengthen organizations working on issues like racial justice, gender equality, democracy, and climate change. They didn’t back down when Trump’s administration threatened their tax-exempt status and teamed up with other mega-foundations against political pressure and initiatives like Project 2025.
At least some of that fortune is being spent well. As the Hebrew scriptures say, what was meant for evil, God meant for good, to bring about the saving of many lives, as is true today.
I guess the takeaway is if you’re reading this in the year 2092, just know that Elon was a completely garbage human no matter how much good The Musk Foundation is doing on Mars.
SAVAGEEE in the best way 😆👀