Most of us probably feel the same way. In the US, Trump, his family, J.D. Vance and the rest of MAGA acolytes should be removed from office, tarred and feathered, publicly shamed and tried for treason, not to mention all their other crimes and transgressions that fill lifetimes. After the historic Trump debacle, American democracy must be rebuilt on stronger foundations. Trump and many of his supporters belong in jail.
We are far from seeing this happen. If the MAGA-cult cannot be purged from office in the upcoming elections, America will have lost its soul forever. But what would it take? Another American Civil War? The straw is bone-dry and all it takes is a sparkle. Elections would be the least violent solution. Ultimately, the sovereign is not the American government, it is not the Supreme Court, but the American people.
As Europeans, we are watching the decline of America in horror. I cannot imagine what most Americans have to endure: being physically manhandled and deported to foreign prisons by ICE-thugs, separated from family, or living in constant fear if you are a migrant or trans. The message is clear: fascists do not want minorities to exist.
J.D. Vance, supported by Peter Thiel, dreams of am orthodox Catholic American Theocracy. Trump is only the ‘useful idiot’ for them to level the post-Trump playing-field. Yes, ideologically and in terms of state-violence, it could get worse. Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor wrote an excellent piece in this context, named ‘the rise of end-time fascism’ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/apr/13/end-times-fascism-far-right-trump-musk.
Are my words too strong? I have signed the Manifesto of Anti-Fascist Intellectuals (https://stopreturnfascism.org/) , alongside 31 Nobel Prize winners and thousands of concerned citizens from all over the world. The US fulfills more and more criteria that fit an authoritarian regime, rather than a democracy.
Why is this not just ‘an American thing’? Why should I, as a European, be concerned?
The answer is simple: Trump is currently being copied by politicians and business leaders all around the world. As if German fascism wasn’t bad enough. The worst-case scenario looming on the horizon is globalized fascism and authoritarianism.
Besides, Trump is Putin’s most successful project. The KGB began grooming Trump decades ago and exerted significant influence over the American elections. They rigged the system and gave America Trump, the ultimate weapon to destroy the United States – more efficient than raining down nukes (which wouldn’t work anyway due to a deadly counterstrike). The destruction of society’s social fabric is permanent. There is a detailed German documentary where Putin comments personally on his ‘project Trump’. The ultimate goal is to russify America with a single leader and ‘king’ on top, shielded by a state-religion, run by oligarch-family clans while eliminating minorities that don’t’ surrender to MAGA-ideology.
https://www.zdf.de/play/dokus/zdfzeit-106/putins-helfer-100
Rather than solely focusing on the orange state-terrorist, we need to develop scenarios for a better future. Our world will never be perfect, but it could be fairer, more inclusive, peaceful, healthier and wealthier, and more habitable for us and our children. Let us storyboard better futures and continue to build resistance. There is no place in this world for illegitimate authoritarian and fascist leaders.
Sources
Bertelsmann Stiftung: Transformation Index (BTI) https://bti-project.org
Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU): Democracy Index https://www.eiu.com/n/global-themes/democracy-index/
Freedom House: Freedom in the World & Nations in Transit https://freedomhouse.org
International IDEA: The Global State of Democracy Reports https://www.idea.int/
Levitsky, Steven & Ziblatt, Daniel (2018). How Democracies Die.
Joana Stella Kompa 
The problem is that this is a democracy and he was elected. That means a
heck of a lot of people chose him as their president. I personally don’t
agree with their choice, but it was their will. We can’t just lock him
up because we don’t agree with his policies and attitude. If our
democracy is all its cracked up to be there are built in checks and
balances built into it. Of course those checks and balances are not
working–are corrupted. So what do you want to do, jail everybody in
government and even the people who elected him? Can’t you see that Trump
is not the problem, what empowered him and keeps him empowered is why he
is there doing what he’s doing.
Hi Michael, you will find an answer here: https://joanakompa.com/2025/05/18/you-are-not-legitimate-leaders-an-answer-to-putin-trump-netanyahu-et-al/ Democracy is not the tyranny of a majority. Democracy is when everybody has a voice. Now, that the ‘big, beautiful bill’ has been passed, America is going for broke. The rich will get incredibly richer, while most Americans will suffer. If not in the mid-terms, it would take an act of God, or a Civil War, to remove Trump from office. It s not looking good. Kind regards.
You said I would find the answer here and then sent me an article.
Actually, I don’t think that is an answer at all. I am a little
disappointed. You know, we have communicated numerous times over a
number of years. I have always found your thoughts to be intelligent,
balanced, and well considered. I know you are advanced academically as
well as spiritually knowledgeable, but your last couple of posts seem to
me to be somewhat shortsighted and fearful. I’m not saying that I have
the answer, or that there are any answers at all. We do agree that these
are very difficult and precarious times. But what to do? Again, no easy
answers and perhaps it is different for each individual. Happy to talk
more with you on this subject should you be interested.
Michael Kovitz
Hi Michael,
You are right about your observation. To me, it is an experience of loss. For example, young people are losing their motivation to push for climate action, and the world is literally being governed by criminals. The danger of sliding into global fascism, or ‘sado-populism’ as Timothy Snyder puts it, is very real. The cultural rollback is enormous. Many of my American friends were utterly disappointed by the Democrats’ lack of notable resistance. Everyone seemed shell-shocked. This is different from the ’60s and ’70s, when everyone fought for peace and freedom. Today, we are on the defensive, protecting the few freedoms we have managed to secure. Perhaps this is exactly the source of discomfort. Where is our vision? The great, convincing narrative that doesn’t sound like a rehash of old hippie ideals? To me, living in a world not driven by fear is a sensible starting point. But we have to be more creative than that. What would your approach be? Kind regards.