“Mary Trump Sounds the Alarm: American Democracy Faces Peril in Trump’s Second Term”

 

Mary Trump Warns of Grave Threat to Democracy as Trump Begins Second Term

Mary Trump, clinical psychologist and outspoken critic of her uncle, Donald Trump, issued a stark warning in a recent blog post, describing the United States as a “nation in uniquely dangerous times.” As Trump begins his second term, she urged Democrats to act boldly, insisting that there’s still a path forward—if they choose to take it.

Estranged from the Trump family, Mary Trump has long been one of the former president’s fiercest critics. In her 2020 bestseller Too Much and Never Enough, she called him “utterly incapable of leading this country,” warning that his presidency endangered the foundations of American democracy.

After winning both the popular vote and the Electoral College in the 2024 election, Trump returned to the White House in January. Republicans took full control of Congress, flipping the Senate and holding the House, triggering a period of reckoning for Democrats, who are now locked in debates over their future strategy and identity.

Trump’s early months back in office have been marked by both widespread support and intense legal opposition. His administration is already fending off lawsuits over sweeping executive orders that critics say infringe on civil liberties and push the boundaries of executive power.

In her Substack post, Mary Trump described America as being at “a treacherous point in our history,” and stressed the urgency of resistance. Reflecting on the fear she felt before the 2020 election, she recalled asking herself: What if Donald gets another chance? Her answer now: “It will be the end of the American experiment.”

She accused Trump and the Republican Party of working to dismantle democracy itself: “They are hellbent on taking away something extraordinarily precious—our imperfect, striving-to-be-more-perfect democracy.”

Many Democrats and critics echo that concern, warning that Trump’s leadership threatens the democratic norms and institutions the country depends on. His allies, however, argue he’s cutting through bureaucracy to deliver results for Americans.

Mary Trump didn’t spare Democrats from criticism either. She argued that complacency allowed institutions to erode, writing, “We haven’t done enough to protect it. Our institutions are failing us, in part because we assumed they didn’t need to be defended.”

She called on Democrats to rethink their approach—urging them to “work around the edges,” prepare long-term strategies, and confront internal weaknesses. “We all have power,” she wrote. “We are on the right side of history. Our anger is righteous—and if we channel it together, we can win.”

Still reeling from their 2024 loss, Democrats face internal fractures. Progressive leaders like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez continue to rally opposition against Trump, warning of rising oligarchy. But more moderate figures, like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have drawn backlash for cooperating with Trump-aligned Republicans on key bills, including budget legislation.

Donald Trump dismissed Mary’s critiques years ago, calling her 2020 book “disgraceful” and claiming she was “never a family favorite” in an interview with Fox News’ Chris Wallace.

Meanwhile, Democrats are also under fire from cultural critics across the spectrum. Comedian Bill Maher warned that if Democrats keep portraying America as inherently flawed and embracing unpopular foreign sympathies, they risk alienating voters. Senator Mark Warner expressed similar frustration, saying, “The Democrats’ brand is really bad. We’re losing the cultural conversation.”

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also weighed in during a podcast: “We need to stop with the finger-wagging. That’s not how we win people over.”

At a Los Angeles rally, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez connected Trump’s rise to political corruption and digital manipulation: “Big money is how we got Donald Trump—bribery tools, meme coins, and extortion deals with media companies. That’s the system he built.”

The upcoming 2026 midterm elections will be a critical test for both Trump’s presidency and the Democratic Party’s efforts to rebuild. Looking ahead to 2028, potential Democratic presidential hopefuls include Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Pete Buttigieg, though the field remains open.