Donald Trump’s relentless attacks on American institutions have had a profound effect on our social fabric, and the consequences are becoming harder to ignore. From his baseless claims of widespread voter fraud after the 2020 election to his attempts to pressure state officials to overturn results he has systematically undermined public trust in the core institutions of democracy.
He hasn’t just bumbled into this. It is by design.
Trump’s years in the public eye have been marked by a persistent effort to delegitimize institutions that serve as the backbone of our democracy. He has taken aim at the judicial system, the free press, and even the concept of truth itself.
This is not just careless rhetoric. It is a deliberate and strategic attack with a clear political goal. He is consolidating power by tearing down the very structures that hold him accountable. By eroding public trust in institutions, he benefits personally. Any attempt to hold him accountable, whether through legal action, investigative reporting, or political opposition, faces a divided and skeptical public. He has made it easier to evade consequences and maintain influence over his supporters.
Trump’s approach is not about improving these institutions or addressing their flaws. He doesn’t care about any of it. He is creating chaos and sowing mistrust so that he can position himself as the only reliable source of truth. His repeated false claims about election fraud directly contributed to rallying his base and pressuring lawmakers. This lead directly to political gains such as the January 6th Capitol insurrection. His supporters then attempted to overturn the electoral outcome.
The tactic is not new, it is an authoritarian strategy. Trump has sought to create a world where the truth is whatever he says it is by undermining trust. Trust in the courts, the media, and even basic facts and where loyalty to him is the only thing that matters. This tactic is consistent with broader authoritarian strategies seen throughout history. These strongman leaders have worked to dismantle independent institutions to secure unchecked power. Autocrats like Vladimir Putin and historical figures such as Mussolini goals have always been the same: to erode public trust in objective reality and replace it with loyalty to a singular leader. This is a direct threat to the foundation of our democracy.
Consider the judiciary. Trump’s disparaging remarks about judges who ruled against him set a dangerous precedent. His attack on U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel is one clear instance. Trump called him biased and unfit simply because of his Mexican heritage during the Trump University lawsuit. Such statements were aimed at undermining public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary. He framed any judicial decision he didn’t like as politically motivated and cast doubt on the impartiality of the courts. If you believe in the sanctity of checks and balances, this is nothing short of an assault.
The judicial branch is meant to operate above partisan squabbles. His repeated undermining of this institution has fostered widespread mistrust and convinced many Americans that judges are merely political actors rather than impartial arbiters of justice. This wasn’t an accident, but part of a calculated effort to weaken any institution that might challenge his authority. Trump laid the groundwork for them to reject any legal outcome that didn’t favor him by convincing his supporters that the courts are biased.
The press was probably Trump’s favorite target. Labeling any critical coverage as “fake news” was not just a strategy to deflect negative stories. It was a deliberate effort to delegitimize one of the last lines of accountability. Trump’s repeated attacks on CNN, which he often singled out as ‘fake news’ and even banned a CNN reporter from the White House, showcase one example of his intent to undermine journalistic credibility .
By branding journalists as enemies of the people Trump created an environment where people became increasingly skeptical of legitimate journalism. This wasn’t just about controlling the narrative. It was about eliminating any competing sources of truth.
In a healthy democracy, the press serves as a watchdog. They hold those in power accountable. But Trump’s attacks on the media were designed to ensure that no one could question him without being dismissed as part of some imagined conspiracy. This has left us in a world where misinformation can spread unchecked. The gatekeepers, the responsible journalists, have lost credibility with a large segment of the population as a result of his attacks.
Trump’s disregard for norms and institutions wasn’t designed just weaken them from the top down. That disregard has trickled into the everyday lives of Americans. The result has been disastrous. He has created division within families, neighborhoods, and workplaces. The societal integrity that allowed for civil discourse is hanging by a thread. When we dispute basic facts, whe the legitimacy of every institution is questioned, the collective belief in a shared truth that holds our society together falls apart. This was exactly the point.
A divided society is easier to control. When people are busy fighting each other they aren’t paying attention to the ways in which they are being manipulated. They can then be fed misinformation to keep them distracted. At the same time, their fears exploited for political gain. They are being influenced to accept policies that benefit the powerful at their own expense. Trump’s strategy has always been to pit us against each other, creating an “us versus them” mentality that keeps us distracted while he consolidates power.
The effect of this on social integrity is stark. Neighbors now eye each other with suspicion. Our friends are divided into camps of “us versus them.” Public trust is eroded to the point that conspiracy theories which falsely claim that a secret cabal controls the government, think QAnon, can gain as much traction as verifiable truths. This isn’t just a political divide. It’s a fundamental breakdown in the ability to talk, listen, and believe in each other. Trump’s attacks on our institutions were never about making America better. They were about making America his. He aimed to build a new reality by tearing down the pillars of our democracy. He is creating a reality in which he alone holds the power.
It’s going to take more than policy changes to rebuild our social fabric is going to take more than policy changes. It will require a collective re-commitment to the truth and to each other. This could involve supporting local journalism, participating in community dialogues, promoting media literacy to identify misinformation, and encouraging open, respectful conversations with those who hold different views. Simple actions like fact-checking before sharing information and standing up against divisive rhetoric in our personal circles can also make a significant difference.
We have to remember that our strength as a society comes from our ability to trust in our institutions. It comes from our ability to hold our leaders accountable. And it comes from the determination to engage in honest dialogue with one another. Trump’s attacks were deliberate. Their effects are profound.
If we recognize what has happened and why then we can start to repair the damage. We can begin to rebuild trust that Trump’s tactics have removed in our courts, in the free press, and in each other. We really don’t have any other options. The alternative is a society where the only truth is power and the only loyalty that matters is to the person at the top.
I often feel when writing these editorials that I am simply shouting into the darkness, hoping against belief that there is someone left to listen. There are many who believe that it is too late. That the division fostered by Trump and his henchmen cannot be repaired. That the over two hundred year run of our democratic experiment has come to an inevitable end. History is clear eyed. No social construct as ours has lasted forever.
We will decide November 5 the fate of our democracy. The choice is that stark. The outcome in our hands.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this editorial are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of Polk County Publishing or its affiliates. In the interest of transparency, I am politically Left Libertarian.
