President Donald Trump and Republicans are increasingly referring to Democrats as “communists,” aiming to link them to communism—a political and economic ideology developed by Karl Marx that was viewed as a major threat to the U.S. during the Cold War. Republicans, led by Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, effectively used this label during the “Red Scare” of the early 1950s, and this strategy has resurfaced in more recent elections.
However, the frequency with which Trump and his Republican allies are labeling Democrats as “communists” has surged following the victories of progressive Democrats in elections nationwide, particularly after last year’s win by New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani. For instance, on Tuesday, Democrats in Michigan will have another chance to nominate a progressive candidate, as Abdul El-Sayed faces establishment figure Haley Stevens (Democrat from Michigan) in the race for the party’s nomination for an open Senate seat. Although El-Sayed rejects the “democratic socialist” label, Trump referred to him as a communist as recently as Monday.
Trump’s statements about the “communist threat”
In a video address on July 28, Trump stated that the Republican congressional candidate in Wisconsin, Michael Alfonso, “will stand against the radical left communists in Congress.” During a speech in Georgia on July 22, Trump said: “We have great candidates; they must win by a large margin, otherwise we will become communists.” In a speech on July 3 at Mount Rushmore, the president described the “communist threat” as a “mortal danger.” In his Independence Day address, he promised that the U.S. “will never be a communist country.”
The balance of power in Washington is at stake, as Trump and the Republicans have controlled the White House and both chambers of Congress since the start of his second term. Republicans view the Democrats’ leftward shift and their adoption of socialist ideas as an opportunity to associate their opponents with the far more radical communism.
Other Republicans support the rhetoric
Trump is not alone in using the “communist” label. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana stated during a press conference that the midterm elections represent a struggle to determine “whether we will preserve our status as a constitutional republic or exchange it, destroy the foundations, and go down the dark path to communism.” He added, “These crazy little mini-Mamdanis popping up across the country are a danger to you and your family. This is not a game.”
Representative Lisa McClain (Republican from Michigan), chair of the House Republican Caucus, was equally direct in a press conference regarding the midterm elections. “This is a choice between freedom and tyrannical government control, between the American dream and the failed nightmare of communism,” she said, referring to the new wave of Democratic candidates. “These are all people who hate our country and everything it stands for.”
Democrats’ response and poll data
Representative Mark Pocan (Democrat from Wisconsin), former chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, remarked: “I think if Donald Trump said we were all bananas, they would call us bananas.” He suggested that Republicans have struggled to use the “socialist” label effectively, prompting them to resort to “communists,” but he doubts this label will sway voters. “If this is the best they have, I look forward to a significant majority in November, so carry on,” said Pocan.
Representative Ro Hanna (Democrat from California), who has backed many progressives this election season, told CNBC that history shows the ineffectiveness of this strategy. “They tried to do this with Franklin Delano Roosevelt four times,” he said, referencing Republican opposition to the president’s New Deal programs, including Social Security. “Voters are smart.”
Polls indicate that using the “socialist” label for Democrats is also unlikely to be effective in the November elections. The July CNBC All America Economic Survey found that 32% of registered voters would be more inclined to support a candidate who identifies as a “democratic socialist.” In comparison, 29% of voters view a candidate with Trump‘s backing more favorably, while 27% favor a candidate associated with the MAGA movement. This comes as Trump‘s approval rating on the economy has dropped to 38%, with 60% of voters disapproving of his actions. Democrats also lead Republicans by four percentage points in the overall congressional poll.
Source: CNBC
