FUCK DONALD TRUMP!

FUCK DONALD TRUMP!
By David Franklin

INTRODUCTION: A Full-Throated Critique of Donald Trump
Donald Trump is not just a political figure; he is a cultural phenomenon, a media spectacle, and for many, a symbol of everything wrong with modern America. His rise to power wasn’t an accident — it was a symptom. A symptom of a broken political system, of unchecked racism and nationalism, of a public increasingly seduced by celebrity over substance. Trump’s presidency was not just four years of bad decisions; it was a full-scale assault on truth, decency, democracy, and collective memory. To say “Fuck Donald Trump!” is not simply to reject a man — it is to reject an ideology of cruelty, corruption, and chaos that he championed and normalized.

When Trump descended that gold-plated escalator in Trump Tower in 2015 and declared that Mexico was sending “rapists” to the U.S., he wasn’t just launching a campaign — he was declaring war on civility, inclusion, and truth. He tapped into long-standing fears, resentments, and prejudices, stoking a fire that many assumed was long buried in American history. From the beginning, Trump weaponized lies, leaned on conspiracy theories, and used racism as a political tool. And it worked. Millions of Americans, battered by economic inequality and disillusioned with establishment politics, saw in him a wrecking ball they could cheer for.

But that wrecking ball didn’t just hit the “elites” — it smashed immigrants, journalists, women, the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, scientists, and anyone who dared to question his power. His rise represented the mainstreaming of white grievance politics, a reversal of progress, and the intentional destabilization of public discourse. Trump didn’t just divide the country — he made division a strategy. He didn’t stumble into power; he rode a wave of resentment and expertly manipulated it into an authoritarian movement wrapped in the American flag.

The backlash to Trump has been equally fierce and historic. Millions marched in protest during his inauguration weekend — the largest single-day protest in U.S. history. His presidency inspired a massive resurgence in political engagement, particularly among young people, marginalized communities, and women. Entire movements — from the Women’s March to Black Lives Matter’s renewed surge — drew energy from resistance to his agenda. His presidency brought new urgency to discussions around fascism, misinformation, media responsibility, and the future of democracy itself.

To criticize Donald Trump in strong, even vulgar, terms isn’t hyperbole — it’s a proportional response. When a leader mocks the disabled, brags about sexual assault, cozies up to dictators, cages children, and incites insurrection, we are long past the time for polite debate. This essay is not written to change the minds of Trump loyalists — it’s written for the millions who watched in horror and refused to be silent. It is a record, a reckoning, and a raw expression of a truth many already feel deep in their bones.

The Rise of Trumpism
The rise of Donald Trump was not a spontaneous anomaly—it was the explosive culmination of decades of simmering resentment, political decay, and media manipulation. “Trumpism” didn’t just appear in 2016; it had been slowly building in the margins of American life, fueled by racial backlash, class frustration, and an ever-growing ecosystem of right-wing media. What made Trump different wasn’t just that he said the quiet parts out loud—it’s that he didn’t care who heard him, and millions loved him for it.

Birtherism and the Obama Years
Long before Trump launched his presidential campaign, he was already laying the groundwork for a movement built on conspiracy and division. His embrace of the racist “birther” lie—that Barack Obama was not born in the United States—was more than just a fringe conspiracy. It was a calculated political move, one that cemented Trump’s relevance in conservative circles and laid bare the deep racial animus that still lingers in American politics. Birtherism wasn’t about documents; it was about delegitimizing the first Black president, tapping into a long-standing tradition of questioning the citizenship and loyalty of people of color in positions of power.

For years, Trump used his media presence—particularly his frequent appearances on Fox News—to sow doubt, fan the flames, and position himself as a truth-teller in a world of lies. He wasn’t fact-based, but he was emotionally effective, speaking to a segment of white Americans who felt alienated in a rapidly changing country where demographics, values, and power structures were shifting away from them. It was dog-whistle politics turned bullhorn.

Racial Resentment and Economic Anxiety
Much has been said about the role of economic anxiety in Trump’s rise, but that narrative only tells half the story. Yes, many Trump voters felt left behind by globalization, automation, and stagnant wages—but their support wasn’t just about jobs or factories. It was deeply entangled with identity. Trump masterfully exploited the idea that traditional American life—white, Christian, male-dominated—was under siege. He used immigration as a scapegoat, calling Mexicans “rapists,” promising Muslim bans, and framing non-white populations as threats to safety, culture, and economic prosperity.

In town halls and on Twitter, Trump spoke to people who felt ignored by the “coastal elites,” who blamed minorities for their struggles, and who resented a media they saw as hostile to their worldview. He didn’t just offer policy (what little there was); he offered revenge. Revenge against a system that had changed too fast for their comfort. His rallies were less about vision and more about grievance—a theatrical, gladiatorial arena where supporters could boo the press, chant slogans, and feel powerful.

The 2016 Election: Misinformation, Russian Interference, and Populist Tactics
Trump’s 2016 campaign will go down as one of the most chaotic—and effective—political operations in American history. It succeeded not despite its chaos, but because of it. Trump understood what few establishment politicians did: that in the age of social media, attention is power. He dominated news cycles through outrageous statements, personal attacks, and sheer unpredictability. The more unfiltered he was, the more the media covered him—for clicks, for ratings, for spectacle. He didn’t buy airtime; he became the airtime.

While Hillary Clinton spoke in paragraphs, Trump barked in soundbites. He deployed populist tactics straight out of the strongman playbook—positioning himself as the outsider who would “drain the swamp,” demonizing opponents, and reducing complex issues to simple, emotional slogans like “Build the Wall” and “Lock Her Up.” His message was blunt, crude, and brutally effective: I alone can fix it.

Behind the scenes, foreign interference played a darker role. U.S. intelligence agencies confirmed that Russia meddled in the 2016 election, using social media disinformation to inflame racial tensions, sow chaos, and boost Trump’s candidacy. Fake news stories, conspiracy theories, and troll farms spread far and wide—often outperforming real journalism. The line between reality and fiction blurred, and Trump exploited that confusion with relentless cries of “fake news,” training his supporters to distrust any information that didn’t flatter him.

But Trump didn’t need to create the conditions for his rise—he simply recognized them, exploited them, and ran with no shame. Years of political gridlock, economic inequality, institutional mistrust, and racial backlash had laid the foundation. All he had to do was light the match.

 

Trumpism wasn’t just about Trump. It was, and remains, a movement fueled by fear, identity, and rage. It thrives on division. It seeks victory through humiliation, not compromise. It doesn’t want to govern—it wants to dominate. And it revealed something many Americans didn’t want to believe: that under the surface of “exceptionalism” was a nation still deeply fractured, vulnerable to demagoguery, and willing to trade democracy for spectacle.

Domestic Policies and Division
Donald Trump’s presidency was defined by a set of domestic policies that dramatically reshaped America’s political landscape, deepened social divisions, and often sacrificed the vulnerable to satisfy the demands of the wealthy and the ideological right. From economic measures like tax cuts and deregulation to aggressive attacks on healthcare and racial justice, and an immigration agenda marked by cruelty, Trump’s policies left scars that continue to shape the nation’s trajectory.

Tax Cuts for the Wealthy and Deregulation
One of the most consequential domestic policies of the Trump administration was the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Branded as a way to stimulate economic growth and benefit the middle class, in reality, it overwhelmingly favored the wealthy and corporations. The bill slashed the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, providing massive windfalls to CEOs and shareholders while offering only marginal, temporary relief to ordinary workers.

Critics pointed out that these tax cuts exacerbated income inequality and ballooned the federal deficit by over $1.5 trillion. Instead of reinvesting corporate gains into wage increases or infrastructure, many companies funneled profits into stock buybacks, rewarding shareholders and executives rather than the workforce. This economic strategy, rooted in “trickle-down” theory, failed to deliver the promised widespread prosperity. Meanwhile, the burden of funding government services shifted increasingly to the middle and lower classes through cuts in social programs and rising healthcare costs.

Deregulation was another pillar of Trump’s domestic agenda. The administration aggressively rolled back environmental protections, financial regulations established after the 2008 crisis, and workplace safety standards. The rollback of the Clean Power Plan, weakening of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and easing restrictions on fossil fuel extraction were hailed by industry but criticized by scientists and environmentalists as catastrophic for the climate. The dismantling of regulations put short-term profits over long-term sustainability and public health, setting the stage for worsening climate crises.

Attacks on Healthcare: The Affordable Care Act
Healthcare was a major battleground during Trump’s tenure. From day one, the administration sought to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, a landmark law that expanded healthcare coverage to millions of uninsured Americans. While Trump never offered a comprehensive alternative, he repeatedly pushed for repeal and worked with congressional allies to strip away key provisions.

The most damaging move came with the repeal of the individual mandate, a requirement that most Americans have health insurance or pay a penalty. This provision was central to keeping insurance markets stable. Its removal destabilized insurance pools, causing premiums to rise and insurers to pull out of some markets. Additionally, attempts to cut funding for Medicaid and roll back protections for people with pre-existing conditions threatened the health security of millions.

Trump’s administration also promoted policies that undermined access to reproductive health services, including funding restrictions on Planned Parenthood and support for “conscience protections” allowing healthcare providers to refuse care based on moral objections. These attacks disproportionately impacted women and marginalized communities.

Response to Racial Justice Movements: Charlottesville and Black Lives Matter
Perhaps no issue revealed the depth of division under Trump’s presidency more starkly than race and justice. His response to the 2017 Charlottesville rally, where white supremacists and neo-Nazis marched openly with torches chanting hate-filled slogans, was widely condemned. Instead of unequivocally denouncing the white nationalists, Trump infamously claimed there were “very fine people on both sides.” This equivocation sent a dangerous signal that emboldened extremist groups and fractured national consensus on combating racism.

As the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement gained renewed momentum following high-profile police killings of unarmed Black Americans, Trump doubled down on law-and-order rhetoric. Rather than addressing systemic racism and police brutality, he painted protesters as “thugs” and “anarchists” and called for aggressive policing tactics. His administration deployed federal forces to cities like Portland and Washington, D.C., often in militarized ways that escalated tensions and violated civil liberties.

Trump’s rhetoric and policies consistently failed to acknowledge or address the legitimate grievances raised by racial justice advocates. Instead, he stoked fears among his base by portraying these movements as threats to public order, reinforcing racial divides and undermining efforts at reconciliation.

Immigration Policies: Family Separation, Muslim Ban, and the Border Wall
Immigration was perhaps the most polarizing aspect of Trump’s domestic agenda. His “America First” philosophy translated into some of the harshest immigration policies in recent American history. From the outset, Trump framed immigrants—particularly from Latin America and Muslim-majority countries—as dangerous threats to national security and economic well-being.

The “zero tolerance” policy implemented in 2018 resulted in the widespread separation of children from their parents at the southern border—a practice that shocked the conscience of the nation and the world. Thousands of children were torn from their families and placed in detention centers, often with little information about reunification. This policy was widely condemned as cruel, inhumane, and a violation of basic human rights, forcing the administration to eventually backtrack amid public outrage.

Parallel to this, the Trump administration imposed the “Muslim Ban,” officially known as the travel ban, which barred entry to the U.S. from several predominantly Muslim countries. Widely viewed as discriminatory and rooted in Islamophobia, the ban was challenged in courts multiple times before a version was upheld by the Supreme Court. This policy not only barred refugees and immigrants but also sent a message of exclusion and intolerance, deepening divisions at home and damaging America’s international reputation.

The border wall rhetoric became a signature symbol of Trump’s presidency. He relentlessly pushed for funding to build a physical barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, portraying it as essential to stopping illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Despite significant political and legal challenges, and overwhelming evidence that a wall would not solve the complex issues of migration, Trump made it a centerpiece of his agenda. The government shutdown of 2018-2019—partially over wall funding—caused massive disruptions and highlighted the divisive nature of this policy.

Trump’s domestic policies, from economic measures favoring the wealthy to harsh immigration tactics and racialized responses to social movements, deepened fissures in American society. His approach did not aim to unite or heal but to consolidate power through division and fear. The legacy of these policies is not only felt in legislative changes but in the fractured national psyche and the challenges the country continues to wrestle with today.

Authoritarian Tendencies
Donald Trump’s presidency was marked not only by controversial policies but by a relentless assault on the very institutions and norms that uphold American democracy. From day one, he demonstrated a pattern of undermining the press, judiciary, and intelligence community—pillars essential for accountability and the rule of law. Coupled with a refusal to commit to the peaceful transfer of power and a cult of personality that prioritized loyalty over truth, Trump’s behavior reflected alarming authoritarian tendencies that threatened the foundational principles of the republic.

Attacking the Press: The Enemy of the People
One of Trump’s most consistent tactics was to delegitimize the media. He famously branded journalists as “the enemy of the people,” a phrase loaded with historical danger, echoing language used by authoritarian regimes to silence dissent. Trump’s attacks went beyond mere rhetoric; he targeted individual reporters and news outlets that dared to question him, branding fact-based reporting as “fake news” and “propaganda.” This persistent vilification undermined public trust in independent journalism, fostering an environment where misinformation could flourish unchecked.

The consequences were profound. His supporters increasingly rejected credible news sources, relying instead on partisan media echo chambers that amplified conspiracy theories and falsehoods. Trump’s tweets and public statements often contradicted verified facts, yet his base remained loyal, viewing truth as subjective and secondary to allegiance. This erosion of a shared factual baseline made political discourse more polarized and less productive.

Undermining the Judiciary and Intelligence Community
Trump’s antagonism extended to the judiciary and intelligence agencies, institutions meant to provide checks and balances on executive power. He publicly disparaged judges who ruled against his policies, accusing them of bias and politicization. The independence of the judiciary is a cornerstone of democracy, yet Trump repeatedly sought to intimidate judges and undermine their legitimacy when their decisions didn’t align with his agenda.

Similarly, Trump cast suspicion on intelligence agencies, often dismissing their findings as part of a “deep state” conspiracy aimed at sabotaging his presidency. This was especially evident during the investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Despite overwhelming evidence presented by U.S. intelligence, Trump frequently denied or downplayed the findings, attacking the credibility of agencies like the FBI and CIA.

These attacks weakened institutional authority and created confusion among the public. By painting oversight bodies as enemies, Trump positioned himself above the law and insulated from accountability—a classic authoritarian playbook.

Refusal to Commit to Peaceful Transfer of Power
Perhaps the most alarming display of authoritarianism came near the end of Trump’s term, when he refused to concede the 2020 election. For months, Trump propagated the “Big Lie” — that the election was “stolen” through widespread fraud, despite no credible evidence. He pressured election officials, the Department of Justice, and even state governments to overturn results. His rhetoric undermined faith in the electoral process, a fundamental pillar of democracy.

This culminated in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, when a violent mob—spurred on by Trump’s calls to “fight like hell”—stormed the building to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s victory. Trump’s refusal to condemn the violence promptly and his continued insistence on baseless claims further stoked the chaos. His actions broke a long-standing norm: that presidents accept election outcomes peacefully and facilitate the transfer of power.

The peaceful transfer of power is perhaps the most sacred democratic tradition in the United States, symbolizing the legitimacy of the system itself. Trump’s attempt to subvert this norm raised existential questions about the durability of American democracy.

Cult of Personality and “Loyalty Over Truth”
Central to Trump’s authoritarian tendencies was the creation of a cult of personality. Unlike traditional politicians who appeal to policies or principles, Trump demanded personal loyalty above all else—even when that loyalty meant embracing falsehoods or compromising ethics. Cabinet members, advisors, and even military leaders were often evaluated by their fealty to Trump rather than their competence or integrity.

This “loyalty over truth” dynamic created an echo chamber where dissent was punished, and facts were malleable. Trump’s base embraced this dynamic, often defending outrageous claims or behavior simply because it came from him. This undermined norms of accountability and transparency, replacing them with a performative allegiance that prioritized survival within Trump’s inner circle.

The cult of personality also manifested in the pageantry of rallies and social media domination, where Trump portrayed himself as the sole savior of the nation against imaginary enemies. His ability to command unwavering devotion, despite scandal after scandal, reflects a dangerous erosion of democratic resilience.

 

Donald Trump’s authoritarian tendencies—marked by attacks on free press, judiciary, intelligence, refusal to respect electoral norms, and a cult of personality—posed a direct challenge to American democracy. His presidency exposed vulnerabilities in the political system and tested the strength of democratic institutions. The damage done during this period serves as a stark warning: democracy requires constant vigilance, and no leader is above the rules that govern the republic.

The COVID-19 Catastrophe
The COVID-19 pandemic presented one of the greatest public health crises in modern history, yet under Donald Trump’s leadership, the United States’ response was tragically inadequate. What should have been a moment for decisive action and unified leadership instead became a showcase of denial, misinformation, and political gamesmanship. Trump’s mishandling of the crisis—marked by downplaying the virus, politicizing health measures, and failing to coordinate an effective federal response—contributed directly to one of the world’s highest death tolls and massive economic turmoil.

Downplaying the Virus and Politicizing Health
From the earliest days of the outbreak, Trump’s messaging was riddled with mixed signals and dangerous misinformation. In January and February 2020, as reports of a new coronavirus spreading in China grew, Trump repeatedly minimized the threat, calling it “very small” and “under control.” He dismissed the severity of the virus publicly even as health officials and scientists warned of its potential to cause widespread illness and death.

His repeated downplaying bred complacency. The White House contradicted its own experts, confusing the public about the seriousness of the pandemic. Trump famously suggested that COVID-19 was “like the flu” and insisted it would “disappear” on its own, despite mounting evidence to the contrary.

Mask-wearing, a simple and effective preventative measure, quickly became politicized. Trump’s refusal to consistently endorse mask usage—often mocking opponents who wore masks—sent a message that public health was secondary to political theater. This undermined trust in science and deepened partisan divides over basic safety measures.

Moreover, Trump promoted unproven and potentially harmful treatments, such as hydroxychloroquine and injecting disinfectants, sowing further confusion and mistrust in expert guidance. His public appearances often contradicted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), leading to mixed messaging at critical moments.

Federal Inaction and Public Confusion
The federal government’s response under Trump was chaotic and fragmented. Coordination between agencies was poor, and the lack of a coherent national strategy allowed the virus to spread unchecked in many regions. Early testing failures hampered efforts to track and contain outbreaks. Delays in scaling up production of personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators left frontline healthcare workers dangerously exposed.

The Trump administration largely devolved responsibility to states, which struggled to manage the crisis with uneven resources and guidance. This fragmented approach created a patchwork of responses across the country, with some states implementing strict lockdowns and others opening prematurely.

The White House Coronavirus Task Force often clashed with health officials, and Trump publicly contradicted their advice, undermining their credibility. When criticism arose, Trump was quick to deflect blame onto the WHO, China, governors, and anyone else but his administration. This refusal to take responsibility eroded public confidence at a time when clear leadership was desperately needed.

Death Toll and Economic Fallout
The human cost of this failed response was staggering. By mid-2021, the United States had suffered over 600,000 COVID-related deaths—far more than any other country—despite having a fraction of the world’s population. Many of these deaths were preventable with timely action and adherence to public health recommendations.

Beyond the tragic loss of life, the economic fallout was profound. Millions lost their jobs as businesses shuttered during lockdowns, exacerbating economic inequality. While Trump touted record-low unemployment figures pre-pandemic and pushed for rapid reopening, the lack of federal support for workers, healthcare systems, and small businesses worsened the crisis for vulnerable populations.

The administration’s initial reluctance to pass comprehensive stimulus packages left many Americans struggling to access unemployment benefits or direct aid. When the government finally acted with relief bills, the implementation was often slow and uneven.

The pandemic also exposed and deepened existing racial and economic disparities. Communities of color and low-income populations faced disproportionate rates of infection and death, as well as economic hardship, highlighting systemic inequalities that were largely ignored or exacerbated by the Trump administration’s response.

Donald Trump’s mishandling of COVID-19 stands as one of the most consequential failures in recent American history. His downplaying of the threat, refusal to embrace science, and politicization of public health cost hundreds of thousands of lives and plunged the country into economic chaos. The pandemic exposed not only vulnerabilities in the nation’s healthcare system but also the dangers of leadership that prioritizes self-interest and optics over human lives and truth.

The Big Lie and January 6th, 2021
Donald Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 presidential election marked a devastating climax to his war on truth and democracy. It wasn’t just a personal refusal to concede defeat—it was a full-scale assault on the electoral system, fueled by lies, conspiracy theories, and deliberate incitement. The result was the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, an unprecedented attack on the peaceful transfer of power in American history. What followed was political chaos, two impeachments, ongoing legal battles, and a legacy of mistrust that continues to poison the democratic process.

The 2020 Election Denial
From the moment it became clear that Joe Biden had won the presidency, Trump launched a disinformation campaign unlike anything seen in modern American politics. He baselessly claimed the election was “stolen” through widespread voter fraud—despite no credible evidence and repeated confirmations by election officials, courts, and his own Department of Justice that the results were legitimate.

The so-called “Big Lie” was not just rhetorical bluster. Trump and his allies filed over 60 lawsuits to overturn results in key swing states. Nearly all were dismissed or defeated due to lack of evidence. Judges—many appointed by Trump himself—found the claims to be unsubstantiated. Still, he persisted, fueling public distrust through constant repetition of falsehoods on social media and in rallies.

Republican lawmakers and right-wing media amplified the lie, transforming it from fringe conspiracy into party orthodoxy. Millions of Americans came to believe, without reason, that their votes had been stolen. Trump had successfully turned truth into a partisan weapon—and millions bought into the myth.

Incitement of the Capitol Insurrection
The most catastrophic consequence of the Big Lie came on January 6, 2021. As Congress prepared to certify the Electoral College results, Trump held a rally nearby, urging his supporters to “fight like hell” or they “won’t have a country anymore.” Whipped into a frenzy by months of false claims and deliberate provocation, a mob of Trump loyalists stormed the U.S. Capitol, violently breaching security, ransacking offices, and hunting lawmakers.

The intent was clear: to halt the peaceful transfer of power by force. Rioters chanted death threats against Speaker Nancy Pelosi and even Vice President Mike Pence, whom Trump had publicly turned against for refusing to block certification. The insurrection resulted in multiple deaths, injuries to over 100 law enforcement officers, and one of the darkest days in the nation’s democratic history.

Trump watched the attack unfold on television, reportedly unmoved by pleas from aides and allies to condemn the violence or call for calm. His eventual statements were tepid and equivocal, telling rioters, “We love you, you’re very special,” even as they desecrated the Capitol. It was not a defense of democracy—it was a betrayal.

Aftermath: Impeachments, Legal Consequences, and Legacy of Distrust
The response was swift and unprecedented. On January 13, 2021, Trump was impeached for a second time by the House of Representatives, this time for “incitement of insurrection.” It marked the first time in history a U.S. president had been impeached twice. Though the Senate later acquitted him—largely along party lines—seven Republican senators broke ranks to vote for conviction, acknowledging the gravity of his actions.

But impeachment was only the beginning. Trump has since faced multiple criminal investigations tied to the insurrection and his attempts to overturn the election. In several states, particularly Georgia, prosecutors are pursuing charges related to election interference, including Trump’s infamous phone call asking officials to “find 11,780 votes.” In federal court, special counsel investigations have been launched to examine whether Trump broke the law in his attempt to cling to power.

Though legal accountability remains ongoing, the political consequences of January 6th are already deeply entrenched. Trump’s Big Lie has metastasized into a wider movement of election denialism that has eroded public confidence in democratic institutions. Polls show that a majority of Republican voters still believe the 2020 election was stolen—a belief with no basis in fact, but massive consequences for future elections.

State legislatures across the country, often citing “election integrity” concerns, have passed laws restricting voting access—targeting mail-in voting, early voting, and voter ID requirements in ways that disproportionately impact marginalized communities. These laws are solutions to a problem that doesn’t exist, fueled by Trump’s false narrative.

Moreover, the insurrection changed how Americans view political violence. What was once unthinkable—a violent attempt to overturn a democratic election—is now a real and persistent threat. The normalization of political violence and conspiracy thinking continues to endanger public officials, voters, and the democratic process itself.

The events surrounding the 2020 election, the Big Lie, and the Capitol insurrection revealed the terrifying extent to which one man’s ego and refusal to accept reality could destabilize an entire nation. Trump’s lies cost lives, shattered norms, and brought the United States to the brink of democratic collapse. Though he left office, the damage lingers. January 6th was not just a culmination of Trump’s authoritarian tendencies—it was a warning shot for the future of American democracy.

Cultural and Global Impact
Donald Trump’s presidency not only shook America’s internal political system—it reverberated across the globe, emboldening extremism, corroding international alliances, and accelerating a global drift toward authoritarianism. At home and abroad, his legacy extends beyond policy into the cultural bloodstream of nations, infecting public discourse with conspiracy, xenophobia, and violent populism. In normalizing extremist rhetoric and elevating fringe ideologies, Trump changed the way the world viewed the United States—and how democratic societies around the world viewed themselves.

Normalizing Extremist Rhetoric and Conspiracy Thinking
Trump mainstreamed what was once considered political taboo. Through his platform, conspiracy theories like QAnon found unprecedented exposure. What began as an obscure internet cult alleging that Democrats were part of a satanic child-trafficking ring grew into a movement that sent believers to rallies, campaign events, and ultimately, the Capitol on January 6. Trump never fully denounced QAnon—instead, he flirted with its themes, occasionally praising its supporters as “people who love their country.”

This wasn’t limited to QAnon. Trump repeatedly amplified discredited or dangerous narratives—anti-vaccine rhetoric, climate change denial, the idea that George Soros controlled global protests, and widespread false claims of voter fraud. In doing so, he blurred the line between fact and fiction, convincing millions that truth itself was a partisan construct. When the president of the United States embraced these distortions, it granted legitimacy to dangerous worldviews, turning online delusion into offline violence.

His rhetoric inspired real-world consequences: armed protesters stormed state capitols; hate crimes spiked; militias plotted to kidnap governors. Trump’s repeated use of dehumanizing language—calling migrants “animals,” journalists “scum,” and protestors “terrorists”—paved the way for others to speak and act with the same disregard for truth, civility, and human dignity.

Damage to America’s Global Image and Alliances
For decades, the United States had positioned itself as a beacon of democracy and human rights. Trump’s presidency shattered that illusion. By cozying up to autocrats like Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, and Mohammed bin Salman, Trump abandoned the moral leadership role that had defined U.S. foreign policy—however imperfectly—in the post-World War II era.

He withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, the Iran nuclear deal, and key international organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), often without clear strategic benefit. His transactional approach to alliances—demanding NATO members “pay up” or face abandonment—undermined trust with long-standing partners in Europe. He insulted foreign leaders, praised despots, and treated diplomacy like a reality TV episode.

The result was a global loss of respect and reliability. Allies no longer saw America as a stable partner, while adversaries saw opportunity in the chaos. Trump’s “America First” doctrine sounded isolationist alarm bells, suggesting the U.S. might no longer defend democratic values abroad. When American institutions were attacked from within on January 6, the global reaction was one of disbelief and disappointment. The country that once championed democratic transitions had become a cautionary tale.

The Rise of Far-Right Movements Worldwide
Trump’s influence wasn’t confined within U.S. borders. His style—boisterous, nationalist, anti-immigrant, anti-elite—became a template for far-right movements across the world. Politicians in Brazil, Hungary, Poland, the Philippines, and elsewhere adopted similar rhetoric, attacking the media, demonizing minorities, and casting themselves as champions of the “forgotten people.”

In Europe, Trump’s presidency energized nationalist parties already skeptical of liberal democracy. In Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro rose to power with Trumpian themes of cultural backlash and disdain for democratic norms. In Hungary, Viktor Orbán felt emboldened to tighten authoritarian controls, citing ideological alignment with the White House.

Trump didn’t invent far-right populism, but he gave it the ultimate endorsement: the White House seal. His embrace of identity politics, “fake news” accusations, and disdain for pluralism became the new global language of right-wing power. The Trump model showed that facts could be replaced with emotion, and elections could be contested not with reasoned debate, but with force.

Trump’s presidency left behind more than policies—it left behind a blueprint for how authoritarianism can rise in an open society. He lowered the bar for political discourse, cracked open the mainstream for conspiracies, and fractured America’s global standing. What once seemed like fringe extremism is now part of daily political life. And far beyond America’s shores, the echoes of Trumpism continue to shape a darker, more divided world.

Conclusion: Why We Say “FUCK DONALD TRUMP!”

To say “Fuck Donald Trump!” is not a crude dismissal—it’s a raw, unfiltered expression of justified outrage. It is a political protest cry, a cultural rebuke, and a moral indictment. It’s the boiling point of years of betrayal, cruelty, and division from a man who held the highest office in the United States and used it not to uplift, but to damage. This expression is not about vulgarity; it’s about truth-telling when euphemisms fail.

Over the course of four years, Donald Trump inflicted widespread harm through policy and personality alike. He stoked racial resentment, peddled dangerous conspiracy theories, and attacked the pillars of American democracy—from the free press to the electoral system. He failed catastrophically in moments of national crisis, like the COVID-19 pandemic, costing hundreds of thousands of lives. He separated children from their parents, used immigrants as political props, and demonized those fighting for racial justice. He mocked the disabled, denigrated veterans, praised dictators, and tried to overturn an election he lost—culminating in a deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

And through it all, he normalized hatred. He made cruelty a currency. 

He showed that in modern America, a leader could lie brazenly, act shamelessly, and still command millions of followers. That is why protest matters. That is why voices must rise—even loudly, even profanely—against tyranny in all its forms.

To say “Fuck Donald Trump!” is to say: we will not forget. We will not forget the children in cages, the tear-gassing of peaceful protesters, the refusal to denounce white supremacy, the Big Lie, the pandemic negligence, or the institutional decay he accelerated. It’s a rejection of complicity, of silence, of pretending that this was ever normal.

But this slogan also underscores something deeper—the power of speech in a democracy. Free expression is not always polite or comfortable. At its most powerful, protest language cuts through noise and demands attention. In the tradition of punk rock, street chants, protest art, and civil disobedience, saying “Fuck Donald Trump!” is an act of reclaiming power. It’s an assertion that truth matters, that decency matters, that democracy is worth defending with fire in our voices.

This is also a call to awareness and vigilance. The forces he unleashed are alive and well. Election denialism, political violence, authoritarian rhetoric, and systemic disinformation are now embedded in parts of American political life. Combating that will require more than a slogan—it will require organizing, voting, educating, and continuing to speak out.

 

So yes, we say it. We shout it. Not out of hate, but out of love—for justice, for truth, for the people hurt by his presidency. Because in the face of lies, oppression, and cruelty, sometimes the only honest response is the one that cannot be watered down…

FUCK DONALD TRUMP!

“FUCK DONALD TRUMP!” (A Protest Poem)
By David Franklin
You built a wall of lies and gold,
A tower high, a heart ice cold.
You spoke of truth, but fed us fear,
Divided lines from ear to ear.