As a Guardian newsletter has noted this morning:

The former US president, Donald Trump,  was fined $9,000 for violating a gag order designed to protect participants in his current criminal trial from his abuse. A New York judge imposed the maximum financial penalty allowed under state law.

The judge has threatened time in jail if he breaks the order. Rather quietly, the tweets to which the judge objected were removed yesterday, presumably at the insistence of Trump’s legal team.

However, what chance is there that Trump will comply with the order? I suspect it very low.

I also suspect that Trump relishes the prospect of jail time for breaking this order. After all, this will just play to has fascist demand that the judiciary be brought under his control when he is President again, precisely so that he can determine not just what the law might be, but also who might be guilty or innocent of breaking it.

As Heather Cox Richardson notes in her Letter from an American this morning, there is no doubt that this is part of Trump’s plan for his Presidency, and that the intention is fascist is beyond doubt. That plan challenges one of the fundamental principles underpinning all liberal democracies, including that of the USA, but that is what Trump wants to do. His aim is to destroy democracy.

The judge in New York is right to fine Trump.

He would be right to imprison him if he breaks the order.

But do not doubt that millions of Americans will support Trump’s right to treat the law with contempt.

We just have to hope that more millions will be warned as to intentions by his so very obviously utterly unreasonable threats and actions.

What we cannot doubt is that the USA as we have known it is tottering on the verge of becoming a fascist state.

I admit, I always thought that possible. I also never thought it would happen. Now, I am not so sure.

We should be worried.