Donald Trump’s actions in his second term are doing incredible damage to our democracy and America’s global standing. His policies, from reckless tariffs to undermining democratic norms, are weakening the country, jeopardizing economic stability, public health, and the rule of law.
On April 2, 2025, Trump imposed tariffs on all foreign goods, excluding Russia. These tariffs have had a devastating impact on the U.S. economy: stock and other markets around the world are crashing, small businesses are struggling, and experts predict a recession in the near future. Even worse, these tariffs are essentially taxes passed on to consumers, many of whom cannot afford it. And while markets are in free fall, Trump goes golfing and sends all-caps Truth Social posts.
Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, which benefited the wealthiest Americans and large corporations, worsened income inequality. Consolidation of wealth is worse than ever, and it goes against democratic ideals.
Elon Musk’s role in Trump’s second term, particularly through his leadership of the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), has compounded the damage. Musk’s influence has led to widespread job losses and the gutting of essential government programs. Medical research has been underfunded, with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget cut by 15%, leaving critical research projects unfunded. Foreign aid has been suspended, and public health agencies like the CDC and FDA are no longer adequately funded. Musk’s leadership has crippled the government’s ability to serve its citizens, especially in times of crisis. [And Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Trump’s Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, is not a doctor or scientist, has no relevant leadership qualifications, peddles anti-vaccinations theories that have been debunked, and has a past personal life filled with failings and disturbing events.]
Trump’s disregard for constitutional rights and the rule of law has become increasingly clear. His administration has violated due process rights, including the illegal transfer of individuals to foreign prisons. His policies bypassing Congress and violating civil liberties continue to endanger Americans’ rights. He tried to end birthright citizenship, but a judge ruled his order unconstitutional. He talks about serving a third term, which would also be unconstitutional.
Trump’s appointment of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense has further endangered national security. The former Fox & Friends host’s past scandals and troubling connections to extremist groups only underscore the danger of appointing loyalists over experts. Hegseth sent classified information regarding military plans and operations on a private messaging app, and the chat group included a journalist. This represents a dangerous trend of incompetence and disregard for national security.
Trump’s persistent lies about the 2020 election and the January 6 events have further eroded trust in American democracy. His connection to Project 2025—a coordinated effort to undermine election integrity—threatens to further destabilize the democratic process. The storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, was directly fueled by Trump’s rhetoric, which The Washington Post reported led to over 700 arrests. Trump pardoned the vast majority of these criminals, calling them “heroes” and “patriots.”
Trump has completely undermined support for Ukraine (and sided with Russia, in many ways). This has weakened the U.S.’s role in promoting democracy worldwide. Meanwhile, Trump has also turned allies such as Canada and Mexico into “enemies” of America.
The United States of America is being led down a dangerous path by Trump. His assault on democracy, both at home and abroad, threatens the values that have long defined this nation. The American people must protect the future of our democracy.
