Protecting Democracy From Trump
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Democracy is America’s most precious asset. Donald Trump has consistently undermined it – fawning over dictators, sowing divisions, and becoming the first president to try to block the peaceful transition of power by instigating an attack on the Capitol.
Throughout his first term, Donald Trump treated our democracy as at best an inconvenience, and at worst an enemy against which he sent a violent mob:
Donald Trump’s presidency represented a constant attack on the norms so critical to upholding our democracy. He referred to the press as “the enemy of the people;” engaged in rampant nepotism; used the office of the presidency for personal profit; and, on his last day in office, revoked a five-year lobbying ban for White House officials – so much for draining the swamp.
When it comes to the most fundamental component of our democracy – voting – he consistently casts doubts on the democratic process, spreading lies about mail-in ballot fraud and repeatedly referring to elections his party didn’t win as “rigged.”
These false claims manifested in very real violence when, on January 6, 2021, Trump gave a 70 minute speech telling his supporters, “If you don't fight like hell you're not going to have a country anymore.” Those same supporters took his encouragement to heart. From the rally, they marched on the Capitol and engaged in an active insurrection where they violently attacked police officers and attempted to stop the certification of the election.
In 2024, Trump became even more aggressive with his attacks on our democracy, encouraging his supporters to “guard the vote” while threatening further violence and intimidation around the voting process.
Trump’s disdain for democracy is not limited to the United States. When it comes to foreign policy, he has repeatedly alienated our closest democratic allies while cozying up to dictators and autocrats:
As President, Trump sided with Vladimir Putin over our intelligence community, refusing to hold Russia accountable for meddling in our elections.
He praised the Philippines’ president’s extrajudicial killings of his own people, telling him he was doing an “unbelievable job.”
He has not been quiet about admiring the power wielded by authoritarians in China, North Korea, and beyond. Of Xi Jinping, he said, “He's now president for life…. I think it's great. Maybe we'll have to give that a shot someday.”
He has sought to style himself after these dictators. During his 2024 campaign, he has used blatantly authoritarian language to threaten those who might vote against him – promising a “bloodbath” if he loses, referring to Biden-Harris voters as “vermin,” and accusing immigrants of “poisoning the blood of our country.”
He has also promised to retaliate against his perceived political enemies – including his own former Chief of Staff and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs – and relishes telling his supporters, “I am your retribution.”
Published: June 2024
Updated: November 2024