The dangers of Donald Trump versus Democratic Socialists of America.

The word democracy is being thrown around a lot these days.

Many prominent political leaders and commentators have described President Trump as “an existential threat to democracy.” Among them:

“Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.” – Former President Joe Biden

“He is a threat to our democracy.” – Liz Cheney

“Donald Trump is a fascist.” – Zohran Mamdani

“Donald Trump is an existential threat to America’s democracy.” – Kamala Harris

Meanwhile, on the other side of the political aisle…the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a socialist political organization in the U.S., is on the march, touting 100,000 members as of February 2026. DSA candidates are advocating a heretofore unimaginable political platform that includes abolishing the U.S. Senate, replacing capitalism with “democratic socialism,” and eliminating the Electoral College.

How about this stat: About 33% of Democrats now consider themselves democratic socialists, according to a recent CNN poll. The party of Thomas Jefferson is becoming increasingly fractured.

Democracy.

I wonder if folks really understand what it is.

Check out what John Adams wrote to John Taylor—a Virginia planter, Revolutionary War veteran, U.S. Senator, and prolific political writer—in a letter dated Dec. 17, 1814:

“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.”

John Adams

Hmm…

The letter goes on to state, “It is in vain to say that democracy is less vain, less proud, less selfish, less ambitious or less avaricious than aristocracy or monarchy. It is not true in fact and nowhere appears in history. Those passions are the same in all men under all forms of simple government, and when unchecked, produce the same effects of fraud, violence and cruelty.”

What was Adams saying? I think it’s important that we understand his thesis, with all the chatter about losing our democracy.

Five days earlier, in another letter to Taylor, Adams seems to laud democracy.

“Democracy…must not be disgraced. Democracy must not be despised. Democracy must be respected. Democracy must be honoured. Democracy must be cherished. Democracy must be an essential, an integral part of the sovereignty, and have a control over the whole government, or moral liberty cannot exist.”

What’s up with that, Papa John? Are ya for it…or a’gin it?

Let’s not miss an important distinction here. Adams, a Federalist favoring stronger national government, was arguing against pure democracies, where the majority exercises unchecked power.

He and the other Founders established a constitutional republic that incorporates representative democracy.

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the Founders toiled for months to ultimately fashion a government distinguished by separation of powers, checks and balances, an independent judiciary, and constitutional limits on government. Our system—not yet perfected—has endured for nearly 250 years because it was designed to divide power rather than to concentrate it.

In short, Adams was not advocating that we abandon republic government. Rather he was warning that even thoughtful and moral people will be hard pressed to resist the opportunities for power, wealth, or glory. Human nature combined with unchecked power is dangerous, Adams contended.

Is socialism the panacea, the fix for all that ails us?

History shows that when political and economic power become concentrated in the state, individual liberty is often diminished. Several governments founded on socialist principles eventually developed into authoritarian communist regimes.

Is President Trump truly a greater threat to our nation’s existence than socialism on a grand scale?

We’ll see.

Perhaps the more enduring question isn’t whether democracy is under threat. It’s whether Americans still understand the constitutional principles the Founders believed were necessary to preserve liberty.