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Wednesday, May 1, 2024

THE HARM A SECOND TRUMP TERM WOULD DO TO AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

 


THE HARM A SECOND TRUMP TERM WOULD DO TO AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

Ah, the prospect of a second term for President Donald J. Trump. It’s a thought that sends shivers down the spines of many Americans, and for good reason. The harm that a second Trump term would do to American democracy is enough to make even the most apolitical among us break out in a cold sweat.

Let’s start with the man himself. President Trump has made no secret of his disdain for the press, the judiciary, and anyone else who dares to question his authority. In a second term, we can only imagine that his attacks on the pillars of our democracy would intensify. The very notion of a free press, a fair and independent judiciary, and a system of checks and balances would be under constant assault.

Then there’s the matter of foreign interference. We’ve already seen how Russia meddled in the 2016 election, and there’s no reason to believe they wouldn’t try to do so again. And with Trump at the helm, it’s not hard to imagine him turning a blind eye to such interference, or even actively encouraging it if he believed it would benefit him politically.

But perhaps the most insidious harm a second Trump term would do to American democracy is the damage it would inflict on our social fabric. Trump has shown time and again that he has no qualms about using race, religion, and other divisive issues to sow discord and rally his base. In a second term, we can only imagine that this kind of toxic rhetoric would reach new heights, further dividing an already fractured nation.

And let’s not forget about the damage that a second term would do to our standing in the world. Trump’s “America First” approach has already alienated many of our closest allies, and a second term would only deepen those rifts. The United States would become an increasingly isolated and distrusted actor on the global stage, with far-reaching implications for our national security and economic well-being.

Of course, none of this is to say that a second term for President Trump is a foregone conclusion. Far from it. There are countless Americans who are working tirelessly to ensure that our democracy remains strong and vibrant, regardless of who occupies the Oval Office. But make no mistake: the harm that a second Trump term would do to American democracy is real, and it’s something that we ignore at our own peril.

So as we hurtle toward the next election, let’s keep our eyes wide open and our wits about us. Let’s remember that democracy is not a spectator sport, and that it requires constant vigilance and engagement from all of us. And let’s do everything in our power to ensure that the harm of a second Trump term remains nothing more than a nightmarish hypothetical.

Donald Trump on What His Second Term Would Look Like | TIME https://time.com/6972021/donald-trump-2024-election-interview/

Project 2025: The Far-Right Playbook for American Authoritarianism - Global Project Against Hate and Extremism https://globalextremism.org/project-2025-the-far-right-playbook-for-american-authoritarianism/

Project 2025 | The Heritage Foundation https://www.heritage.org/conservatism/commentary/project-2025