Is US democracy dying in the limelight?
Is US democracy dying in the limelight?
The Washington Post's slogan is “Democracy dies in darkness.” Critics of Donald Trump would argue that democracy came under even greater pressure in the full spotlight this past weekend.
With a large rally at Madison Square Garden this weekend, Trump’s campaign has been firing on all cylinders as the final stretch of the 2024 election has started. The rally captured intense reactions, embodying a feverish political theater that both enthralled and shocked. Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s made biting quips about Latino communities and called Puerto Rico, home to 3.2m US citizens, an “island of garbage”. Hinchcliffe’s remarks – cleared by the event’s organizers – and disturbing rhetoric from Trump ally David Rem, who denounced Vice President Kamala Harris as the “antichrist” and “devil,” stirred a media firestorm. These comments underscore how Trump’s rallies double as ideological lightning rods, channeling frustration but also brewing an atmosphere that breeds extreme divisiveness.
David Rem’s words fits into a political atmosphere of near-apocalyptic moral binaries, echoing Trump’s broader narrative of existential threats posed by Democrats. This framing suggests not just political rivalry but a “battle for America’s soul,” a phrase echoing through Trumpian circles.
Trump himself also served up his usual dystopian threats, as the 78-year-old repeated his claims about “the enemy within…We’re just not running against Kamala. She means nothing, she’s purely a vessel that’s all she is…We’re running against…a massive, vicious radical-left machine that runs today’s Democrat party.” Trump also once again called Harris “very low IQ individual” and said that “On day one I will launch the largest deportation program in American history. I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered.”
Each punchline and insult works to cast the Trump campaign as rebellious and unfiltered—qualities his base admires—yet dangerously reinforces polarization. It's not just about winning; it's about demonizing the opposition as an existential threat.
Of course, Democrats are also painting the other side as not just political opponents but as danger to American democracy with Harris calling her opponent “a fascist”. In their view, a second Trump presidency would bring a cocktail of authoritarianism, democratic backslide, and amplified societal divisions.
It is already concerning that two of the country’s most prestigious newspapers — the LA Times and The Washington Post — have decided, under pressure from their owners, not to issue a presidential endorsement. For the Post, this is the first time in 36 years. This is not because the editorial teams find it difficult to choose the most suitable candidate to lead the country, but rather because the owners are likely afraid of repercussions if Trump wins.
Polling data reflects a very tight race, not just for the White House but also for control of Congress. Concerns about potential electoral manipulations and post-election civil unrest are growing. This is not a hypothetical fear. Trump’s rhetoric continuously hints at a resistance to accepting potential defeat, echoing the 2020 election’s fallout where he refused to concede. And Democrats are also preparing for “anything Republicans throw at us” in court before, after and on Election Day.
Many Democrats and Republicans no longer see the other as opponents whose possible victory you would accept, knowing that your chance will come again and that your opponent also wants the best for America. No, the other is viewed as an enemy who poses a threat to the United States. Given this attitude, there is a very real chance that, regardless of the election outcome, the final result will take a long time to be determined, unrest will break out, and the result will be contested by the losing party. In other words, the political uncertainty that financial markets are currently grappling with is likely to persist beyond the coming Tuesday.
Stay tuned for more insights in my next Global Political Analysis report.
Kind regards,
Andy
