Is American Democracy Slipping into Autocracy?
As Donald Trump leads his administration into another term, experts and observers are warning of a troubling trend: the creeping normalisation of authoritarian practices in the United States. From public displays of loyalty to aggressive immigration crackdowns, analysts see patterns echoing the autocratic playbooks of countries like Hungary, Egypt and El Salvador.
This article draws on reporting from The Guardian, highlighting voices of activists and academics who argue that the U.S. may now be more autocratic than democratic.
Authoritarian Tactics Taking Root
Several concerning signs have emerged under Trump’s leadership:
- Cabinet Loyalty Displays: A three-hour broadcast of Trump’s cabinet session served up lavish praise, reminiscent of authoritarian spectacles in Russia.
- Targeting Opponents: On Truth Social, Trump called for the arrest of political adversaries like financier George Soros and his son, accusing them—without evidence—of inciting violence.
- Revoking Security Protections: The apparent removal of Secret Service support for Kamala Harris and FBI raids on former ally John Bolton have raised red flags among civil rights advocates.
- Immigration Enforcement Extremes: Widespread raids, including one outside a primary school in Washington DC, have fed fears among immigrant communities.
Political scientist Don Moynihan describes the current U.S. system as “competitive authoritarianism,” warning that the levers of power—including the legal system, civil society and media—are increasingly being consolidated for political control.
Global Warnings and Experiences
For activists like Abdelrahman ElGendy, who fled Egypt following political imprisonment, the United States no longer feels like a refuge. After seeing personal data leaked on forums targeting critics of Israeli policy, he left the U.S., wary of echoing patterns of persecution he’d experienced at home.
“What really sustains authoritarianism is that quiet, constant threat,” ElGendy told The Guardian. “It’s the shadow of the prison door that shapes behaviour.”
In El Salvador, the human rights group Cristosal was recently forced to cease operations after 25 years, citing government hostility. Its leader, Noah Bullock, notes disturbing similarities between the U.S. crackdown on immigrants and the repressive tactics used by Salvadoran security forces.
The Road Ahead: Is There Still Time?
Some, like voting rights activist Stacey Abrams and Princeton professor Kim Lane Scheppele, believe the tide can still be turned. They emphasise the urgency of recognising the seriousness of the threat and resisting complacency ahead of the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential contest.
But others are more pessimistic. ElGendy argues that the nation’s democratic foundations have long allowed room for authoritarianism to flourish. “When a democracy is designed with this capacity for authoritarianism,” he said, “you’re never more than one election away from its reappearance.”
The warning is clear: defending democracy requires more than tradition—it demands vigilance, resistance and reform.
