When you hear the word “autocracy,” the United States —— “We carried forth that great gift of freedom ——” is rarely a country that comes to people’s minds. Right? Well, according to these 12 red flags of Democratic erosion, America has moved in the direction of autocracy, thanks to the efforts of President Donald Trump. This is the opinion of the New York Times editorial board. The first red flag that we’re sliding towards an autocracy: Trump is bypassing the legislature. “I have a very strong power.” He imposed tariffs and defunded U.S.A.I.D., the Department of Education and countless other institutions, all without congressional approval. But it’s more than just Congress he’s bypassing. The second red flag: He’s also defying our courts. He attempted to circumvent a federal judge’s order by deciding to send the California National Guard to Oregon, and outright ignored an order when he deported migrants to El Salvador. Trump is granting himself a level of power not outlined in our Constitution. What has he done with all this power? The third red flag: declaring national emergencies on false pretenses so he can justify his infamous —— “reciprocal tariffs.” And the fourth red flag: using the military for domestic control, like his unnecessary use of federal agents and troops across the country. And in order to benefit himself, Trump is guilty of the fifth red flag, wielding his power for personal profit. The Trump Organization’s income skyrocketed from $51 to $864 million within a year. And let’s not forget the airplane from Qatar. “I could be a stupid person and say: Oh, no, we don’t want a free plane.” How does Trump plan on maintaining all this power? The sixth red flag: controlling information. After the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported —— “258,000 fewer jobs in May and June ——” he fired the head commissioner. And he started to persecute his political enemies, the seventh red flag. “James Comey, Letitia James, Adam Schiff ——” He’s stacking the D.O.J. and the F.B.I. with loyalists and threatening Democrats with the death penalty. Trump’s interest in controlling information goes far beyond the government. He’s starting the eighth red flag, trying to control universities, by cutting their research funding and dictating who they admit to minimize protest. This is a part of his attempt at the ninth flag, stifling dissent and speech, by investigating left-leaning organizations, revoking the visas of pro-Palestinian student protesters and pressuring stations to cancel Jimmy Kimmel. In addition to Democrats and the —— “radical left ——” Trump is guilty of the 10th red flag: vilifying marginalized groups. “Transgender insanity. Diversity, equity and inclusion nonsense. Illegal aliens —— destroying the blood of our country.” And to Trump, he’s the only one who can restore “the blood of our country” because the 11th red flag of autocracy is authoritarians creating a cult of personality. Trump is hanging banners of his face from government buildings and posting photos of himself in crowns. “Nobody knows the system better than me. I’m the only one that matters.” To cling on to all this power he’s cultivated, he’s onto the 12th red flag of autocracy: manipulating the law by urging Republicans to to gerrymander their states in order to sway future elections in his favor. “Just a very simple redrawing. We pick up five seats.” The United States is not yet close to a full-on autocracy, but these 12 red flags show how far along the path we’ve come and how much more destruction Trump could do in the remainder of his term.
