I’ll admit Trump is a lot clumsier about saying it out loud, but 2000s Republicans were absolutely on the same wave. Being virulently anti-anyone-dark-than-an-italitan, actively eroding free speech, and hating anyone who worked for a living has been standard conservative shit since at least the 1800s. If anything, the 2000s Republicans had more of a war-boner to boot. Trump did in fact bring the facism home a fair bit more openly, but let’s not mistake a new hairdo for a new political movement.
I’m gonna guess your fatigue was low from running. Paying attention to your fatigue (and some kind of melee weapon as a major skill) makes the game much less of a drag in the first few levels.