If the person saying it is a leftist, they mean authoritarian leftists, the sort of people who unironically praise Mao and are very positive towards modern-day China. If the person saying this is more right-wing, replace "tankie" with "commie scum" when you're reading and you'll get what they mean just fine.
What the fuck is a tankie?
A person who praises authoritarianism with a communist bend. Think people who like North Korea and it's great leader, but live somewhere like the USA.
If the person saying it is a leftist, they mean authoritarian leftists, the sort of people who unironically praise Mao and are very positive towards modern-day China. If the person saying this is more right-wing, replace "tankie" with "commie scum" when you're reading and you'll get what they mean just fine.
Accurate as fuck
An authoritarian leftist.