For a lengthy period, Donald Trump, during his presidency, constantly pointed the finger at ‘communists’ whenever he found himself embroiled in legal or political quagmires. As we know, in his second term, he is still using this politically charged term to taint the image of his opponents —from judiciary figures to educational professionals— as a menace to American values, identity and culture. He boasted about his strategy during the previous year, detailing how he aimed to defeat his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, in the presidential race. And indeed, he managed to paint Harris as ‘comrade Kamala’, resulting in his victory in November.
Although Trump won the support of more than 77 million American voters, representing 49.9% of the total vote, the ‘communist’ label he often throws around is far from being a fitting description of the contemporary US. It’s beyond comprehension why Trump still resorts to this anachronistic term, especially when communism has significant sway only in countries like China, Vietnam, North Korea and Cuba.
Despite its inapplicability to the US context, the label ‘communist’ still carries a considerable emotional punch and is consequently used as a potent rhetorical device. The White House, unsurprisingly, remains silent when asked for clarification on what Trump means by ‘communist’. The question arises during a particular week filled with tricky economic and political developments.
Just a few days before, a survey conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs revealed a troublesome truth: more Americans were against Trump’s set priorities than those who were in agreement, showcasing a rising ambivalence even within his own Republican base. Not long after, figures indicated an economic downturn in the first quarter of 2025, a consequence of Trump’s business-disrupting tariffs.
Interestingly, in a public address, one of Trump’s high-ranking aides, Stephen Miller, took a page from Trump’s playbook, echoing ‘communist’ four times within a span of approximately 35 minutes. This repetitive rhetoric emerged during Miller’s disapproval of previous policies on transgender rights, diversity, and immigration.
Historical voting data reveals that in the 2020 and 2024 elections, Trump’s major supporter demographic was the age group over 45, who slightly preferred him over his Democratic competitors. This could signify a lingering Cold War fear that ‘communists’ threaten to infiltrate or even dismantle the United States, a fear that has catalyzed some of the country’s darkest episodes.
The aforementioned fear resonates closely with the narrative of McCarthyism, which eventually led to McCarthy’s downfall and death in 1957. Notably, the chief counsel during those notorious hearings, Roy Cohn, played a substantial role in Trump’s life, acting as his guide and advisor during the 80s and 90s.
Against this charged historical backdrop, the Cold War, which had been ongoing for over thirty years, saw the fear of nuclear conflict reach its zenith. Communism started to crumble in 1989, ending with the disbanding of the Soviet Union in 1991. Now, in post-Cold War times, Russia is no longer a communist state but is under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin.
As the week closed, Trump was seen coming to terms with the possible ramifications of his administration’s interventions. However, the crucial dialogue today, as Robertson suggests, doesn’t involve capitalism versus communism, but rather discusses the extent and timing of government intervention.
We’re left to speculate whether Trump is effectively promoting a debate of communism versus capitalism or rather skirting the issue. The aforementioned consideration of government involvement illuminates the numerous complexities embedded in the political discourse, complexities that transcend mere dichotomies such as communism versus capitalism.
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