Democracies must hang together to temper autocratic Donald Trump

Daily Maverick

2 days ago

While troops are in American cities to suppress voices of dissent for his unlawful policies, Donald Trump is having a multimillion-dollar military spectacle at public expense to honour his birthday. What's actually on parade are his autocratic aspirations, a clear and present danger to democracy.
What in the world can be done?
Better to ask – what can the world do? Fellow liberal democracies should not stand by idly while the country that was once the standard-bearer for their movement falls into tyranny. When is intervention appropriate, and how to go about it?
Keeping a close watch while the Americans try to get themselves sorted is key. The courts, one of the few remaining guardrails, may hold. But the Supreme Court is compromised by a commanding majority installed by Trump. Already, they have put him above the law by immunising the President from legal consequence, even if he assassinates political rivals.
That, combined with Trump's abuse of his authority to issue pardons, is toxic. His henchmen can commit crimes on his behalf, confident they will get off scot-free.
The last bulwark is the street. Pro-democracy Americans are gathering across the United States and the world to hold the line. There's every reason to believe that Trump is an aberration that won't persist. Why? His unpopular policies and abuses will come to a screeching halt with next year's midterm elections.
This runs counter to Trump's false narrative. He would have us believe that his 2020 defeat was a fraud. His return to power affirms that and provides some supposed mandate.
The facts prove otherwise. In 2016, he lost the popular vote by millions but managed to prevail through a peculiarity of the process. In 2020, he lost by millions more in what was a thumping. In 2024, he did not get a majority, only a plurality – below 50% of the votes cast. His thin win was because some who turned him out in 2020 decided to sit it out. Now, they and many more are rising up.
Free and fair elections will end this man who would-be king's reign. He'll do everything he can to stop that. But if Trump carries out a coup openly, that will tarnish the brand. He'll try to maintain appearances and get what he wants by stealth.
He's sure to cheat like he does at golf, his taxes or on his wives. Already, he has dismantled the country's cybersecurity, enabling foreign US adversaries to hack the vote. If control of Congress is close, he's likely to press state officials to sneak some votes for his candidates. If pressed by overwhelming defeat, he'll resort to robbing the voters. Why wouldn't he repeat his playbook from 2020, falsely claiming he is the victim of election fraud? This time, he's learnt from his previous failure and is far better prepared to overturn the results.
Whatever happens, democracies around the globe must demand free and fair elections in the US and deliver consequences if Trump overturns the constitution to hold on to power.
Since his regime would no longer be legitimate, other governments should refuse to recognise it, its ambassadors and envoys. Being clear now about that is crucial, and may deter a Trump tyranny.
If this cancer of the body politic turns malignant, South Africa and sister democracies have their work cut out for them. Turning Trump's 'America First' into America isolated would require a unified effort to ban trade and travel.
If opposition leaders are forced to flee, they should be welcomed. It is not unimaginable that if the Obamas and others have to seek shelter under such circumstances, they might ask – and should receive – recognition as the government in exile.
Other pressure, too, can be brought from unexpected places. The American-born Pope may see fit to excommunicate many of Trump's enablers on the Supreme Court, five of six justices who are Catholic. Oh, and add Vice-President JD Vance to this papal ban. The theological grounds? Violation of their solemn oath to protect and defend the constitution. God isn't the only judge of their sacrilege.
Taken together, these would leave nothing but a burnt Taco, unpalatable to even Trump's most fervent followers, accustomed to consuming whatever detritus he drops.
Tyrant Trump and his minions would not long survive the world's resounding rejection. Such drastic treatment would be painful for a time, but far less damaging than allowing this malignancy to metastasise into the bones of America and beyond.
Trump's clear and present danger to democracy must now be met with the promise of such resolve. This will help ensure the free and fair elections necessary to restore what was once a trusted friend and ally.
With autocracy on the rise globally, sister democracies must come together on this. As Benjamin Franklin encouraged his fellow patriots in their struggle against tyranny and for democracy, 'We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.' DM