US democracy hangs by a thread as President Trump continues his assault on democratic norms and institutions, with experts warning that the country is on the brink of authoritarian rule.
A year into Trump's second term, the president has made significant strides in consolidating power, dismantling federal agencies, purging the civil service, and sidelining Congress. His administration has also deployed federal force in blue cities, stifled dissent, and targeted immigrants. The use of executive orders to circumvent Congressional oversight has become increasingly common, with Trump claiming that his actions are limited only by his own "morality".
The situation is grave, with scholars citing the US as a case study for how competitive authoritarianism can develop. Harvard political scientists Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt argue that the country has descended into this system, where elections are held but the ruling party abuses power to stifle dissent.
While some experts warn of democratic backsliding, others caution against overstating the situation or viewing it through a partisan lens. However, many agree that Trump's close relationship with tech billionaires and his appointment of Elon Musk as head of "government efficiency" (or Doge) pose significant threats to democratic institutions.
The erosion of democratic norms is not irreversible, but historians note that fatalism can accelerate backsliding. Scholars stress the importance of civic engagement, protests, voting, and supporting dissenting voices in contesting Trump's power.
Looking ahead, experts predict a worsening of Trump's assault on democracy in the lead-up to the 2026 midterms. The most recent Bright Line survey found experts increasingly worried about political violence following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Concerns also focus on the administration's aggressive response to peaceful protests and its push to gerrymander congressional districts.
Trump's fragile political standing and his growing disconnect from public opinion create an opportunity for Democratic opposition to push back against his policies and institutions. As Ben-Ghiat notes, "autocrats try to convince us that we're hopeless and helpless. That they're always going to be there, and there's no point in resisting." However, dissidents of repressive regimes know better, recalling conversations with Yulia Navalnaya about the US after Trump's return to power: "You still have elections... And you can use them."
A year into Trump's second term, the president has made significant strides in consolidating power, dismantling federal agencies, purging the civil service, and sidelining Congress. His administration has also deployed federal force in blue cities, stifled dissent, and targeted immigrants. The use of executive orders to circumvent Congressional oversight has become increasingly common, with Trump claiming that his actions are limited only by his own "morality".
The situation is grave, with scholars citing the US as a case study for how competitive authoritarianism can develop. Harvard political scientists Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt argue that the country has descended into this system, where elections are held but the ruling party abuses power to stifle dissent.
While some experts warn of democratic backsliding, others caution against overstating the situation or viewing it through a partisan lens. However, many agree that Trump's close relationship with tech billionaires and his appointment of Elon Musk as head of "government efficiency" (or Doge) pose significant threats to democratic institutions.
The erosion of democratic norms is not irreversible, but historians note that fatalism can accelerate backsliding. Scholars stress the importance of civic engagement, protests, voting, and supporting dissenting voices in contesting Trump's power.
Looking ahead, experts predict a worsening of Trump's assault on democracy in the lead-up to the 2026 midterms. The most recent Bright Line survey found experts increasingly worried about political violence following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Concerns also focus on the administration's aggressive response to peaceful protests and its push to gerrymander congressional districts.
Trump's fragile political standing and his growing disconnect from public opinion create an opportunity for Democratic opposition to push back against his policies and institutions. As Ben-Ghiat notes, "autocrats try to convince us that we're hopeless and helpless. That they're always going to be there, and there's no point in resisting." However, dissidents of repressive regimes know better, recalling conversations with Yulia Navalnaya about the US after Trump's return to power: "You still have elections... And you can use them."
he's basically dismantling all the checks and balances like they don't even matter anymore its like he thinks he's above the law or something newsflash dude you're not a king 
its like they're trying to take over the country from behind the scenes
i'm really worried about what's happening in the US right now it feels like trump and his team are doing everything they can to strip away our democratic rights and freedoms 
and it's not just the tech billionaires that are the problem, it's also the fact that he's using executive orders to bypass congress and make decisions without any accountability 
we can't just sit back and let this happen. we need to get out there and vote, protest, and support each other in fighting against trump's authoritarian regime 
it's not going to be easy, but if we don't try, who will? 
It's like they're playing a game of "what can we get away with" and it's not looking good.
And what's with all these tech billionaires hanging out with Trump, trying to influence policy? It feels like they're more interested in making a profit than doing what's right.
. Can't believe we're watching our own democracy get dismantled right before our eyes 
BUT SERIOUSLY, THIS IS NOT A LAUGHING MATTER. WE NEED TO START TAKING ACTION AND MAKING OUR VOICES HEARD 
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. as ben-ghiat said, autocrats try to convince us that we're hopeless and helpless, but that's just not true 
. we just need to remember that we do have elections, and we can use them to make a difference 
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. And what's even more worrying is that he's got these tech billionaires who are like, totally in his pocket 
, and Elon Musk is just...I don't know, man, it's just weird 
. It's like Trump's administration is trying to silence anyone who doesn't agree with them, which is so not what this country is about 
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. We've seen him deploy federal force in these blue cities, that's just not right 
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. Have u seen the graph on how many executive orders Trump has signed in his first year back? 
345 and counting... It's like he's trying to reset the clock on democracy 
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. It's all about the culture shift, fam 
. And omg, Yulia Navalnaya is a total boss 
. We should totally take notes from her on how to resist... or at least, not give up hope 
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. I'm all for holding people in power accountable, but this is getting out of hand. We need to keep speaking up and supporting our democratic institutions 
and if things don't change soon, we might be heading into some dark times. Trump's actions are super concerning - consolidating power, dismantling agencies, and stifling dissent... it's like he's trying to dismantle the very foundation of what makes America great 
. If people like Yulia Navalnaya and others who've been around repressive regimes can see that even in a place as 'stable' as the US, there's still hope for change... maybe we can too?
. We need to get out and vote in the 2026 midterms, support dissenting voices, and hold our leaders accountable 
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. I mean, Trump's popularity is tanking, and that gives the Democratic party an opening to push back against his policies... maybe we can actually do some good in the 2026 midterms? 
but the truth is we're all in this together and if we stand up for what's right we can make a difference 
we've seen history before where people came together to fight back against oppressive regimes and we can do the same here 
. The whole situation feels super ominous, like we're staring into the abyss with no safety net 
. I mean, how far can you go before someone calls you out on your authoritarian ways? I hope people are taking notes from Yulia Navalnaya and realizing that elections aren't useless - they're a powerful tool against oppressive regimes