Defend Democracy and the U.S. Constitution!
Stand-up for Patriotism and the American Flag!
Become an Ambassador for Democracy!

Synopsis

• Trump has already completed 7 of 13 steps required to dismantle America’s democracy and replace it with authoritarian rule, with him on the throne.
• Our democratic institutions—courts, media, civil society, and elections—are under coordinated attack.
• If we fail to act now, it may soon be too late. Full authoritarian control is within his reach.
• Americans have the power to stop him–but only if we act together.
• Silence is complicity. Inaction is surrender. We must set aside our political differences and unite—today.

Those who have followed political events since Inauguration Day 2025 know that America’s democracy is rapidly devolving into an authoritarian-fascist regime. Unfortunately, many Americans are not paying attention, likely because they are too busy living their lives, lack an interest in politics, are burned out on politics, or believe the federal government is irrelevant to their way of life.

This essay will succinctly explain why “tuning out” and political inaction are no longer viable options for those who cherish America’s democracy

First, I want to clarify some definitions:

President Trump’s Efforts to Replace America’s Democracy with an Autocracy-Fascist Government

The process of converting a democracy to an autocratic-fascist form of government is well defined and has been successfully accomplished in many former democracies. Trump knows he must complete America’s transformation into an autocratic-fascist state before the mid-term elections, which explains his administration’s urgency.

Here are the steps that the head of a democracy must complete, in approximate chronological order, to transform their democracy into an autocracy or fascist government. I have included links demonstrating what Trump has accomplished, and what remains to be accomplished.

Chronologic Steps to Convert a Democracy to an Autocracy:

1. Gain Legitimate Power – DONE by Trump 

• Achieve office through legitimate elections or appointments within the existing democratic framework.

2. Erode Democratic Norms – DONE by Trump

• Attack and ignore democratic norms, questioning electoral integrity, and delegitimizing political opponents.
• Spread distrust in independent institutions.

3. Consolidate Executive Authority – DONE by Trump

• Centralize power by weakening or dismantling legislative checks and balances.
• Grant extraordinary powers to the executive branch, often under the pretense of a national emergency or crisis.
• Rewrite governing rules to strengthen the executive and weaken legislative powers.
• Control policy and statements issued by central banks; law enforcement and courts; official statistics; financial accounting and regulation; election administration; intelligence and national security

4. Neutralize Independent Judiciary – In Process

• Replace independent judges with loyalists like Judge Aileen Cannon.
• Undermine judicial independence, criticize and threaten judges, ignore/prevent the judiciary from challenging authoritarian actions.
• Eliminate federal employees responsible for ensuring federal official comply with federal law.

5. Media Suppression and Propaganda – In Process

• Systematically erode trust in independent media, labeling critical coverage as “fake news.”
• Eliminate legitimate news outlets and broadcasters
• Intimidate, censor, or threaten independent journalists and media outlets through legal and extralegal actions, baseless liable lawsuits, and intimidation of media owners
• Promote state-aligned media outlets like Fox News
• Use propaganda to rewrite history, foster nationalist ideology, and discredit opposition or independent voices.
• Co-opt the educational systems and public institutions to disseminate propaganda, minimize intellectual dissent, thus ensuring long-term ideological control.

6. Control Civil Society – DONE by Trump

• Restrict or outlaw independent NGOs, advocacy groups, unions, and community organizations.
• Arrest, threaten, or exile influential activists and opposition figures.
• Demonize one’s political opponents and minority groups
• Threaten wealthy industries and individuals who fail to provide financial and political support 
• Make vague threats of violence to those who attempt to thwart the authoritarian. 
• Pardon criminals who committed crimes in support of the authoritarian.
• Utilize “mob rule” to achieve one’s end (Jan 6).
• Control educational curriculum and admission to higher education

7. Manipulate Elections – DONE by Trump

• Alter election rules to favor the incumbent regime.
• Suppress voter turnout among opposition groups through intimidation, voter suppression tactics, gerrymandering, or outright electoral fraud.
• Repeatedly claim a lost election proves the existence of electoral fraud.
• Criticize poll workers who adhere to the law.

8. Create and Exploit Scapegoats – DONE by Trump

• Identify internal or external groups as threats, blaming them for societal problems.
• Encourage widespread fear, hatred, or suspicion of minority groups or political opponents to unite supporters.

9. Establish Security and Surveillance Apparatus – In Process

• Expand police powers, surveillance, and intelligence operations.
• Justify widespread monitoring, surveillance, detention, and repression by claiming national security threats.

10. Militarize and Cultivate Loyalty within Security Forces – In Process

• Purge security services and military of dissenting or neutral figures, appointing loyalists who will enforce authoritarian directives without question.
• Use force to suppress political dissent and intimidate potential opposition.

11. Institutionalize Propaganda and Indoctrination – In Process

• Redesign educational curricula and public messaging to glorify the regime, rewrite history, and instill nationalist ideology.
• Normalize authoritarian values and obedience through continuous state-sponsored messaging.
• Propagate falsehoods with the intent of crippling opponents, shoring up key constituencies through false grievances, creating a PR diversion to allow for additional power grabs and illegal financial enrichment.
• Undermine the public trust that anything is “true.”

12. Cult of Personality – DONE by Trump

• Develop a charismatic leadership narrative, depicting the leader as the sole protector and embodiment of the nation’s identity and destiny.
• Encourage public displays of loyalty, rituals, slogans, and symbols reinforcing allegiance to the regime.

13. Enforce Full Authoritarian Control – Not Yet Done

• Eliminate political opposition through imprisonment, exile, assassination, or forced disappearance.
• Permanently establish authoritarian structures, solidifying regime’s absolute authority and suppressing any remnants of democratic institutions.

It should now be evident that Trump is far along in the process of transforming America’s democracy into an autocracy. He has already destroyed the system of checks and balances and seeks to further consolidate all federal power in his hands under the so-called unitary executive theory. He has has also ensured that he benefits financially from his presidency by leveraging government power for personal gain and weakening oversight mechanisms that were designed to thwart nefarious behavior by federal employees. His ultimate aim is to remain in power indefinitely—something he attempted during his first term.

Americans who believe in our 250-year experiment in representative democracy, the U.S. Constitution, and our longstanding yet uncodified norms of political behavior must act now, or we will lose our democracy for generations.

The Urgent Need for Political Unity, and Action

Republicans have excluded Democrats, the minority party in both houses, from legislative negotiations. As a result, Democrats’ influence in Congress is limited to procedural maneuvers, such as filibusters and parliamentary objections, which they have failed to leverage effectively. The Democrats have also failed to present a clear, actionable strategy to halt America’s slide into authoritarianism.

Americans can wait no longer for Democratic politicians to save our democracy; we must act now, before our democratic form of government is irrevocably emasculated.

We need a massive pro-democracy coalition to take to the streets now. That is our only option.

The Urgent Need for a Unifying Political Message 

To build a truly massive pro-democracy coalition, we must adopt a single, unifying political message—one that transcends individual issues but is a pre-requisite for achieving all our political priorities.

We no longer have the luxury of prioritizing important yet secondary issues—such as climate change, gun control, reproductive rights, racial and social justice—because doing so will alienate some corners of our pro-democracy coalition, weaken our movement and reduce our chance of success.

Trump is politically strong. He has full control over the Senate, the House, many federal courts, and has (or soon will have) full control over the entire U.S. security and military apparatus. We cannot risk internal divisions within our pro-democracy coalition because if authoritarianism wins, all our cherished political priorities will be suppressed for decades.

Once America’s democracy is secure, we can resume debating our individual political priorities.

I would suggest we consider the universally acceptable message: 

Defend Democracy and the U.S. Constitution!
Stand-up for Patriotism and the American Flag!

With a unified body politic and a single ­political agenda, America also needs bold, charismatic leaders, politicians and public figures who can help champion our cause.

We all must take a stand, even if there is personal risk—because without action, our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will live in a very dark and regressive world.

I am going to Defend Democracy and the U.S. Constitution!

I am going to Stand-up for Patriotism and the American Flag!

I am going to join the mass protests.

The fight for democracy starts now; because if we fail to act today, tomorrow will be too late.

Conclusion

To effectively counter America’s slide toward authoritarianism, we must prioritize unity and reclaim the U.S. Constitution, patriotism and the American flag as symbols of our American democracy. Defending democracy must be our singular objective, as we temporarily set aside policy disagreements on all other issues—these issues can be addressed later, when we again have a healthy democracy.

Defend Democracy and the U.S. Constitution!
Stand-up for Patriotism and the American Flag!

Join me in mass protests, while democratic action is still possible. With urgency, tell everyone you know that Trump is stealing our democracy!

Become a very public advocate for democracy. Become an ambassador for democracy.

Hayward Zwerling

March 17, 2025

I have become aware of pro-democracy Hands Off rallies scheduled for April 5, 2025. You can find your nearest Hands Off rally at HandsOff2025.com.

I attended the 4/5/2025 Hands Off! rally in Washington, DC and wrote about my experience in the 4/5/25 and 4/7/25 entry of My Retirement Diary.

A low resolution jpg of “Fascism is coming to the U.S.A.” can be downloaded by double-clicking on it. If you need a high resolution jpg for making large signs, send an email to: subscribe @ IHaveAnIdea dot us

Morning rush hour, 18 March 2025, Boston, Mass Turnpike