Patriotic Americans who cherish democracy must realize that if Donald Trump is elected to a second presidential term, he will transform our government into a fascist state. Sadly, there are signs in the recent actions of the Supreme Court and the House of Representatives that he has already begun the process of destroying our precious democracy. For these reasons, we must do our best to ensure he is again defeated at the polls as he was in 2020. The very existence of our democracy is at stake.
The Republican Party is no longer a party of conservative ideology. That GOP is now dead, replaced by a party of absolute cult-like loyalty to Trump. The radical right Trump sycophants in this “Trumplican” Party put Trump over Country every time. This is so extremely anti-American and should sadden all who love America.
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Trump’s own words reveal how un-American his vision for America is. On day one of his presidency, Trump says he will be a dictator. He praises, not our allies, but our authoritarian enemies Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong Un. Recently he feted Hungary’s fascist leader, Victor Orban, at Mar-a-Lago, admiring his unchallenged strength. He constantly criticizes democratic institutions such as our judiciary and our election systems. He was the first president in our history to reject the results of the presidential election and incite a violent insurrection in the hope of illegally and unconstitutionally clinging to power. He is already saying the 2024 election will be rigged, and if he loses, there will be a bloodbath. Don’t be naïve that Trump would leave after four years; he will surely attempt to become a dictator who will defile our Constitution.
Trump’s lawyers recently argued to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) that Trump has, with absolute immunity, the right to to kill political opponents, immunity that extends beyond his term in office. Why is this even being considered by SCOTUS? They should have allowed the Appeals Court rejection of this ludicrous argument to stand. The obvious answer is that the conservative majority on the Court is allowing time to pass to fulfill Trump’s plan to delay all of the felony charges against him until he is President so he can then either dismiss the charges or pardon himself. Is SCOTUS laying the groundwork for a president who believes he has absolute power, thereby laying the groundwork for fascism in America?
Fascists who love all-powerful leaders will argue that no sitting president can be held criminally accountable for their actions while president. But our Constitution doesn’t define such rights. This fascist dream is only a Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel memorandum written in 1973. This SCOTUS is clearly confused about the 14th Amendment as well, which clearly states “No person shall … hold any office … who, having previously taken an oath … to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.” Yet SCOTUS refused to allow the striking of insurrectionist Trump’s name from state ballots. The Supreme Court, doing Trump’s bidding, violated our Constitution.
Trump, in true fascist manner, demonizes his opponents, both real and fictitious. He constantly disparages Muslims, Democrats, and immigrants. He recently used the language of Hitler (who he praised recently as having done some good things) to characterize immigrants as vermin and animals. President Biden worked with the Senate on a bipartisan basis with conservative Republican senators to develop legislation to improve our immigration system. But since Trump wanted to make problems at the border an election issue, he told the MAGA Speaker of the House Mike Johnson not to bring the bipartisan legislation for a vote. So the immigration bill, which also contains aid for democratic Ukraine for their defense against the Putin invasion, gathered dust for over six months. He derides even the press as “the enemy of the people.”
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Clearly, Trump cares more about himself and his fascist friend Putin than American democracy. Trump also recently wished for an economic collapse in America in 2024 so his chances of beating Biden would improve, which clearly shows, like any good fascist leader, that he loves himself more than his country. Has fascism already come to our shores? It is clear that Trump’s goal is not to make America great again, but to transform it into the fascist image of 2024 Russia and 1930’s Germany. It is up to you to stop this fascist train resoundingly in the November, 2024 general election. It is up to you–and each one of us–to save our democracy.
