Photo: Evan Vucci/AP
Donald Trump is an existential threat to American democracy.
Trump tried to stage a coup in the months after his defeat in the 2020 election and then incited a violent insurrection in an illegal attempt to stay in power. He is a convicted felon, a twice impeached, four-times-indicted con man and fraudster, the leader of the MAGA cult who uses conspiracy theories and lies about immigrants and minorities to stoke fear and hatred.
Above all, he is a clear and present danger to the modern American way of life. His greatest ambition is to become a dictator.
American voters need a concise closing argument, one that explains the stakes in the 2024 presidential election and makes clear why Trump can never again be trusted with power. Too many Americans seem to be ignoring the risks that another Trump presidency would pose to the nation, and so it is important to warn about him one more time.
Threat to Democracy
Trump is a fascist who wants to overthrow the United States’ democratic system of government. He doesn’t hide his openness to ending American democracy, telling supporters they will never need to vote again after he wins this election. “Get out and vote, just this time,” he said in July, before adding: “You won’t have to do it anymore. Four more years, you know what? It’ll be fixed, it’ll be fine, you won’t have to vote anymore.”
He fawns over his role model, Vladimir Putin, the autocratic Russian president who helped Trump get elected in 2016. Trump has already suggested that he won’t accept the results of the 2024 election if he loses, just like he refused to accept defeat in 2020.
In a court filing in early October, Jack Smith, the special counsel who has charged Trump in connection with the January 6 insurrection and his illegal efforts to stay in power, reminded Americans of the threat that Trump poses. With damning new details, Smith laid out the facts of how Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election, showing that Trump knowingly pushed bogus claims of voter fraud with outrageous conspiracy theories in an illegal scheme to cling to power.
“When the defendant lost the 2020 presidential election, he resorted to crimes to try to stay in office,” Smith wrote in the brief.
When those efforts failed, Trump used a speech at a rally outside the White House on January 6, 2021, to incite thousands of his followers to descend on the U.S. Capitol, where the election was in the process of being certified by Congress. Trump “knew that he had only one last hope to prevent Biden’s certification as President: the large and angry crowd standing in front of him.” So he “delivered a speech designed to inflame his supporters and motivate them to march to the Capitol.”
Trump is responsible for “the tinderbox that he purposely ignited on January 6,” Smith wrote.
Imprison Political Opponents
Trump sees another term as president as a revenge tour.
He plans to weaponize the legal system by packing federal judgeships, the Justice Department, the FBI, and other federal law enforcement agencies with lackeys and right-wing extremists in order to prosecute his political enemies. He falsely claims that he is a victim of persecution, but in reality that is what he plans to inflict on his political rivals. He will pardon the January 6 insurrectionists and fire Smith and the other prosecutors who have handled the federal criminal cases that have been brought against him.
President Donald Trump plans to use the outdated Insurrection Act to mobilize the military to suppress dissent. He may also instruct the Justice Department to challenge minority votes and seek to overturn election results in favor of Democratic candidates. Trump has shown a willingness to incite his supporters, such as the Proud Boys, to intimidate voters. He has even suggested using the military against Americans who oppose him, referring to liberals as “the enemy within.”
Trump’s agenda also includes rolling back reproductive rights, potentially leading to a national ban on abortion and contraception. He and his supporters aim to restrict reproductive rights further and may even push for a ban on no-fault divorce, increasing male control over women.
Additionally, Trump’s anti-immigration stance could result in mass deportations and the creation of concentration camps for immigrants. He has used racist rhetoric and fear-mongering to rally support for harsh immigration policies.
Furthermore, Trump’s alliance with Christian nationalists could lead to the establishment of a theocracy, with a focus on imposing religious beliefs on society. His attacks on the media and support for censorship threaten freedom of the press and independent journalism.
Trump’s ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin raise concerns about his loyalty and potential collaboration with foreign powers. The Trump-Russia investigation revealed Russian interference in the 2016 election to benefit Trump, sparking questions about his relationship with Putin. Intelligence officials have informed Congress that Putin is aiming to assist Trump in winning the 2024 election once again.
In the event of Trump’s victory, he is expected to align with Putin’s interests by sacrificing Ukraine and NATO.
Trump holds resentment towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not succumbing to pressure in 2019 to fabricate an investigation against Joe Biden and his son. This led to Trump’s impeachment by the House.
Beyond personal grudges, right-wing extremists dislike Ukraine due to its association with Western Europe, which they perceive as liberal. They view Putin as an ally in their global culture war against the West and hope for Ukraine’s defeat and NATO’s dissolution.
Christian nationalists, who support Putin and Netanyahu, advocate for a US withdrawal from NATO and further Israeli military aggression in the Middle East. Trump is likely to comply with these desires if re-elected.
There are concerns that Trump may seek to extend his presidency beyond the constitutional two-term limit, following Putin’s example in Russia. Some scholars have warned about potential loopholes that could allow Trump to retain power.
Given Trump’s history, such a scenario is not out of the realm of possibility.
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