Given the significant political unrest gripping the United States as the country approaches the 250th anniversary of its independence, historian and author Christina Morina has characterized President Donald Trump’s tenure as a historical crisis for American democracy.
Speaking to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung,” Morina stated that both of Trump’s terms represent unequivocally a low point in the nation’s democratic history, marked by intense turmoil and attacks on the principles of liberal democracy. She suggested that only the American Civil War of the 19th century may have been worse. The impact of Trump’s presidency spread through society like a shockwave, characterized by the administration’s repeated violations of the rule of law and disregard for the Constitution.
Despite the massive assaults on democratic institutions launched by Trump, the Professor of General and Contemporary History at the University of Bielefeld still identifies signs of hope. In Morina’s view, the fact that US democracy has not been destroyed is due to the sheer number of people who have actively resisted Trump’s attempts to dismantle democracy across all sectors of society. This resistance has taken many forms, including legal actions, protests, fundraising, and everyday solidarity.
She noted that this sense of “deep-seated anger and a kind of civic defiance” against the government’s scandalous excesses is now present in rural and conservative regions alike. Furthermore, the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and the Iran War have caused significant rifts within the MAGA base.
Although Trump remains unpopular in polls, Morina is cautious regarding predictions of a political shift following the midterms. While Democrats have good prospects of winning many seats, she emphasizes that one should be reserved when labeling contemporary events as a definitive “turning point.” Morina points out that the Democrats face a serious credibility issue, which regional victories alone cannot obscure. Many voters no longer view the party as the champion of social justice, requiring the party to undergo programmatic renewal-a difficult task, she explained.
Finally, the professor warned that there is no doubt that the Trump administration will attempt everything possible to influence the upcoming elections. They may try to leverage the National Guard and federal security forces for intimidation to discourage people from voting or to question the validity of the elections should they lose.
