Analysis
Donald Trump’s conduct throughout his first presidency and beyond has exemplified several anti-democratic tactics that undermine the legitimacy and integrity of elections.
1. The “Big Lie” and Systematic Discrediting of Elections
The “Big Lie” refers to Trump’s persistent claim that the 2020 election was rigged or stolen. Despite no evidence and more than 60 court cases being dismissed, Trump:
- Repeatedly asserted fraud without evidence (BBC, July 2023)
- Manipulates education system to echo falsehoods (USA News Today, May 2025)
- Eroded public trust in the electoral system (Protect Democracy, August 2023)
- Made election denial a GOP loyalty test (Associated Press, )
Trump continues to promote the lie well into 2025.
2. Refusal to Concede and Attempted Coup (January 6 Insurrection)
Trump refused to acknowledge his defeat, culminating in the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection:
- Pressured Georgia's secretary of state to “find” votes (Wikipedia, Jan 2021)
- Pressured Pence to overturn certified results (ABC News, June 2022)
- Urged supporters to “fight like hell” just before the Capitol breach (Newsweek,Jan 2021)
- Pardoning those convicted of participating in the insurrection (People, Jan 2025)
3. Voter Suppression and Election Subversion Laws Post-2020
Following 2020, many GOP-led states passed laws restricting voting access:
- Reduced mail-in voting (Associated Press, March 2025)
- Shortened early voting windows (Wikipedia,2021)
- Imposed stricter voter ID requirements (The Guardian, April 2025)
- Increased partisan influence over election administration (The Times of India, May 2025)
4. Intimidation and Purging of Election Officials
In the wake of 2020, election officials faced widespread threats and replacement:
- Election workers faced threats and harassment (Politico, May 2025)
- Many officials resigned or ousted under pressure (Associated Press, May 2025)
- Replaced by partisan loyalists (Common Dreams, September 2024)
- State legislatures restructured election boards for partisan control (Washington Post, May 2025)
5. More Recent Examples (2022–2024)
Trump’s influence continues to undermine democracy:
- 2022 Midterms: Supported election deniers like Kari Lake in Arizona (NBCNews, Nov 2022)
- 2024 Campaign: Promised “retribution” and again refused to commit to accepting election results (CNN, May 2024)
- Militias and Extremism: Proud Boys and similar groups remain active and threatening (Reuters, June 2024)
- Last ever Election: Trump uses language suggesting authoritarian future (New York Times, July 2024)
Conclusion
Undermining free and fair elections remains one of the clearest and most dangerous elements of democratic decline under Donald Trump. From disinformation campaigns and insurrection to voter suppression and the intimidation of officials, these patterns reflect an authoritarian approach to maintaining power at the expense of democratic norms.