MSNBC Host: Trump's Rallies Aren't Fun, They're Fascist

Donald Trump 's rallies represent "21st century American fascism," MSNBC 's Lawrence O'Donnell said Saturday night.

"Trump has, whether we like it or not, he has joy," MSNBC's Chris Matthews said during a panel discussion, while comparing him to rival Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). "The people at his events are having a good time."

O'Donnell disagreed.

"I haven't seen any joy at any Trump events," he said. "I'm watching a militaristic operation that physically kicks people out, beats people. He's now converted Secret Service agents to be his thugs. There's video of a Secret Service agent beating a Time photographer. This is a crime that's on video in a Trump event. These are the ugliest, most violent political events I've ever witnessed."

The photographer, Christopher Morris, was slammed to the ground at a Virginia rally  after being told not to cover a protest. At a more recent Trump rally, the candidate asked followers to raise their right hands and swear to support him.

"What causes the crowd to cheer it on?" Matthews asked.

"Trumpism," O'Donnell said, referencing Trump's long, counterfactual crusade to prove that President Barack Obama wasn't born in the United States. "People on TV laugh about it because he's a sick, pathological liar who's allowed to get away with it. And the media thinks that, 'Oh, he said something half funny, badly delivered, at one of these events, and so let's call this fun.' It's not fun. This is ugly fascism in America. This is 21st century American fascism."