In a striking commentary, Democratic strategist James Carville has drawn parallels between those supporting U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration and Nazi collaborators following World War II. During a recent episode of his podcast, “Politicon,” Carville issued a firm warning that individuals and institutions aligning themselves with Trump's policies may face historical scrutiny akin to that faced by those who sided with Hitler's regime.

Speaking on Friday, Carville emphasized the potential societal backlash against corporate leaders and law firms that have collaborated with Trump. He referenced historical events from August 1944, when Paris was liberated from Nazi occupation, noting that the city’s inhabitants did not show leniency toward collaborators. “They didn’t take very kindly to the collaborators... It was not a very pretty sight in the streets of Paris,” Carville remarked, evoking the harsh realities faced by those who had aided oppressive regimes.

While Carville stopped short of endorsing violent actions, he recounted how Nazi collaborators were publicly humiliated in the aftermath of the war. “I’m not saying that these people should be placed in pajamas and have their heads shaved, marched down Pennsylvania Avenue, and spit on… but I’m saying that that did happen,” he said, highlighting the historical precedents of public shaming.

His comments come at a time of increasing scrutiny directed at law firms and corporations that have engaged in contracts with the Trump administration. In a notable trend, several prominent legal firms—including Paul Weiss, Skadden Arps, and Milbank—have faced pressure to abandon their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices in order to secure or maintain government contracts. For instance, Milbank confirmed to The Hill that it had resolved tensions with the administration to “foster a working relationship” and avoid conflict.

In an alarming development, President Trump recently signed an executive order prohibiting employees of Perkins Coie—a law firm that has frequently opposed him—from entering government buildings, effectively terminating their federal contracts. Perkins Coie is currently challenging this order in court, illustrating the contentious legal landscape that firms face under the current administration. Other legal firms have reportedly committed tens of millions of dollars in legal services to support Trump-endorsed initiatives to avert similar repercussions, as reported by Fox News.

Carville did not hold back in his criticism, labeling these concessions as “a disgrace” and accusing the firms of betraying the core democratic principles of the United States. “These people are a disgrace to the law firms they represent, to the companies they represent... and they’re a disgrace to the United States,” he stated emphatically on his podcast. He further declared that those involved in such collaborations would be remembered as “some of the greatest traitors, appeasers that we’ve seen.”

Moreover, Carville targeted Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, branding him a “collaborator” for his dealings with the Trump administration and asserting that “he will never ever wash that stench off of him.” Despite asserting that he does not advocate for public shaming, Carville insisted on the necessity for an “intellectual reckoning” for those who have enabled Trump’s presidency. “When this is over, there has to be, at a minimum, an intellectual reckoning with this class of appeasers that are here,” he concluded, underscoring the need for accountability in political and corporate spheres.