Dear Fellow Americans,
We need to talk. The United States is witnessing a surge in authoritarian tendencies at the highest levels of government. There have been troubling signs in the new administration that challenge our democratic norms. This is not a partisan accusation, but a patriotic alarm. It is a call for all Americans - Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike - to pay attention. Our nation was founded in rejection of kings and tyrants, yet today official channels celebrate a leader as if he were a monarch. We face a moment of national reflection: will we stand by the principles of democracy, or allow them to be eroded by apathy and unchecked power? The answer depends on each of us, and the time to choose is now.
One of the most disturbing shifts in recent rhetoric is the White House’s own portrayal of President Trump in monarchical terms. In an official social media post, the White House shared an image of Trump crowned like a king with the caption “LONG LIVE THE KING!”. This was not a satirical cartoon from an outsider or a fringe fan account; it was the White House itself broadcasting that message. The President also trumpeted the phrase "LONG LIVE THE KING!" on his Truth Social platform as if such feudal homage were fitting for an American president.
That should give us pause. In a republic born from rebellion against monarchy, the occupant of our highest office is being hailed, officially, as royalty. This is far more than a harmless meme or boastful nickname. It represents a dangerous flirtation with undemocratic ideals. By embracing imagery of kingship, the administration signals a belief that the President should rule rather than govern, to reign rather than serve. Such a mindset is utterly at odds with the ethos of a constitutional democracy where leaders are public servants, not sovereigns.
It’s not just imagery. President Trump himself has suggested that laws do not constrain him when he is, in his view, “saving” the nation. Recently, he approvingly quoted Napoleon Bonaparte: “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.” This sentiment that a leader’s personal mission justifies overriding the law is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes. No president or public official in America is meant to be above the law, no matter what they believe they are “saving.” The very idea undermines the rule of law, suggesting that the leader’s will stands higher than the laws passed by the people’s representatives or the rulings of courts.
Trump has hinted at disregarding the two-term limit, a constitutional safeguard against unchecked power. Mr. Trump has openly mused about seeking a third term in office, despite the constitutional guardrails prohibiting it. Floating the prospect of breaking a hard-and-fast rule of our Constitution sends an alarming signal that this administration views foundational democratic rules as mere inconveniences to be bypassed. When a leader shrugs off constitutional limits and basks in royal titles, every American, regardless of party, should feel the hairs on the back of their neck stand up.
It's reassuring that many Americans are uneasy about this. As Governor Hochul of New York bluntly responded, “New York hasn’t labored under a king in over 250 years… We sure as hell are not going to start now.”. That defiant reference to our 1776 rejection of monarchy captures what so many of us feel. We are citizens of a republic, not subjects of a throne. To see any American president cloaked in kingly rhetoric is a jarring wake-up call. The Presidency is an office with limits, defined and constrained by the Constitution. It's crucial that we make sure it stays that way.
Rhetoric is only part of the picture. Alongside the words and images, the Trump administration’s actions are undermining the very institutions and norms that uphold our democracy. In just the first months of 2025, we have seen a series of moves aimed at consolidating power in the executive branch at the expense of the checks and balances that keep our republic free. Consider some of the recent developments coming out of Washington:
Each of these actions is deeply worrying on its own. Taken together, they paint a picture of an administration systematically concentrating power, removing obstacles to its authority, and disregarding the customary limits that have guided presidents for generations. This is not “politics as usual” or merely the pendulum swing of policy between parties. This is a deliberate erosion of the guardrails of democracy - the very guardrails that prevent any one leader from dominating the government or the people.
Even some conservatives have warned against this kind of power grab. America’s founders designed our government with co-equal branches precisely because they feared the rise of another King George III. They knew concentrated power is a threat to liberty. When an administration tramples on the separation of powers, undermines independent institutions, and demands personal loyalty over loyalty to the law, it betrays the spirit of the Constitution. Regardless of our political affiliations, we should be able to agree: this is not how American democracy is supposed to function.
If all of this sounds eerily familiar, it’s because history has sounded this alarm before. Democracies can decline, and even perish, when their leaders accumulate power unchecked and citizens fail to stand up in time. We would be foolish to assume “it can’t happen here.” In fact, the patterns we are seeing in 2025 America echo those from other societies where democracy was lost. We owe it to ourselves to heed those lessons from history.
Consider the cautionary tale of Germany in the 1930s. Democratic systems can be undone from within when leaders consolidate power and erode institutional checks. In 1933, Germany’s constitutional democracy was gradually dismantled through legal means, stripping away rights and centralizing authority. What history teaches us is that democracy is fragile. When leaders claim extraordinary powers and sidestep legal constraints, freedoms can vanish quickly. We've seen this pattern before, and it rarely ends well for the people. The key lesson is that democratic erosion doesn’t always happen suddenly. It creeps in as norms are ignored and laws are rewritten. The rights and freedoms we take for granted can disappear if we, the people, do not vigilantly defend them.
We need not look so far back to find parallels. In our own time, several countries have seen elected leaders steer their nations toward autocracy. One stark example is Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Over the past decade, Orbán methodically weakened Hungary’s free institutions, changing election laws to entrench his party, curbing judicial independence, muzzling the press, and demonizing opponents. The result? Hungary, once a budding democracy, is now described by the European Parliament as an “electoral autocracy.” It still holds elections, but the playing field is so tilted and the checks and balances so crippled that one party’s dominance is virtually assured.
Why mention Hungary? Because the parallels to what we see here and now are striking. Orbán’s playbook seems to have inspired elements of President Trump’s agenda. It’s no coincidence that American conservatives drafted a “Project 2025” plan for Trump’s second term that mirrors Orbán’s approach to consolidating power. Upon regaining office, Mr. Trump swiftly acted on that blueprint: issuing a raft of orders to centralize authority and to “test the country’s system of checks and balances,” as one report put it. The warning signs were there. Orbán famously once vowed he would never lose an election again after an early defeat, and he changed the system to keep that promise. We now see an American president hinting he too should never have to step aside, even musing about dodging term limits. We have seen crackdowns on independent voices and loyalty purges in foreign lands; now similar tactics are emerging on our soil. The methods of autocracy are universal, even if our nation’s story is unique.
Authoritarian leaders always start by claiming they're doing what's best for the country. They often exploit fears, crises, or popular grievances to justify accumulating extraordinary power. They say, "I alone can fix it," and that normal rules must be bent or broken to save the country. This refrain is dangerously familiar. President Trump’s claim that saving the country allows him to “not violate any law” echoes what strongmen throughout history have insisted - that their ends justify any means. But history shows the opposite: when a leader is elevated above the law, it is the country that ultimately needs saving from that leader.
America is not immune to the forces that have weakened other democracies. We have proud democratic traditions, but they are not magically self-sustaining. They live only as long as we uphold them. Our Constitution and institutions provide a framework, but they require people of integrity to animate them and an engaged citizenry to hold leaders accountable. The collapse of democracy can arrive subtly: a tweak of a rule here, a norm ignored there, a gradual acceptance of the unacceptable. Then one day we wake up to find the guardrails are gone, and getting them back is exceedingly hard. As a Hungarian observer of her country’s downfall warned, “If autocratization starts, it goes on like a snowball… it’s not something that stops. It’s a process.”. We must stop that snowball before it gains momentum in America.
Finally, we should take inspiration from our own history of resisting tyranny. Over two centuries ago, Americans fought a war to rid themselves of a king’s domination. Our founders then built a system designed to prevent any would-be king from ruling here. Each generation since has had to reaffirm that commitment. In the civil rights era, in the post-Watergate reforms, and at other critical junctures, Americans pushed back against abuses of power and expanded liberty. Now it is our turn to do the same. We stand at such a juncture today. The comparisons to troubled times in history are not made to scare or exaggerate, but to remind us that democratic decline has happened elsewhere and could happen here, if we let it. Knowing this, we must ensure that it does not happen on our watch.
This letter is not about sowing panic; it is about igniting purpose. We urge you to see beyond party labels and focus on the principles at stake. This is not Republicans vs. Democrats, nor “Trump supporters” vs. “Trump critics.” This is authoritarianism vs. democracy. It concerns every American. If you cherish the Constitution, if you value your freedom to speak, to worship, to disagree with your government, then you have a stake in this, no matter who you voted for last election. Patriotism isn’t about loyalty to a person; it’s about loyalty to the ideals that bind us as a nation.
We appeal to Americans of all political persuasions to remember our common heritage. Remember that our ancestors - of every race, religion, and creed - bled and sacrificed to create and preserve a nation of laws, not of men. Remember that freedom is fragile. As President Ronald Reagan once cautioned, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. It has to be fought for and defended by each generation.”. Those words ring true now more than ever. It is our generation’s turn to stand up and defend that freedom. We cannot assume that the freedom we inherited will automatically pass on to our children. We must choose to protect it, actively and vigilantly, in the face of current threats.
So what can we do? First, we must speak out. Do not let the normalization of undemocratic language or behavior go unchallenged in your conversations, social circles, or on social media. Share your concerns with friends and family, especially those who might not yet see the gravity of the situation. This letter itself is one voice; we need millions more to join in a chorus for democracy. When neighbors, coworkers, and relatives of diverse political stripes all start acknowledging the warning signs, it chips away at the illusion that any of this is “okay” or “just politics.” Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Shine light on what is happening by staying informed and informing others, using credible sources and facts. The more Americans know about the authoritarian drift, the harder it becomes for it to continue unchecked under cover of apathy or ignorance.
Second, demand accountability from our leaders. Contact your representatives in Congress - all of them, not just those you usually agree with. Urge your Senators and House members to put country over party, to investigate abuses of power, and to act as a check on executive overreach. Remind them that they swore an oath to the Constitution, not to any president. Support those officials, regardless of party, who show the courage to question or oppose undemocratic actions. At the same time, let officials who enable or excuse these authoritarian behaviors know that history is watching and so are their constituents. The beauty of our system is that elected officials ultimately answer to us, the voters. Even when one party controls multiple branches, public pressure and moral courage can still make a difference, but only if we apply that pressure consistently and loudly.
Third, support the institutions that are under attack. Subscribe to reputable news organizations; defend journalists who are seeking the truth. Serve on juries, vote in every election (local and national) for candidates who demonstrate integrity and respect for democratic norms. Encourage peaceful protest and civic engagement in your community. Stand with civil servants and whistleblowers who honor their duty to the public over loyalty to a leader. These individuals are often the last line of defense inside a faltering institution, and they need our backing. We should celebrate, not scorn, those who uphold their oaths when it would be easier to stay silent or complicit.
Most importantly, don’t give in to cynicism or complacency. Authoritarians take hope in the idea that people will give up. That we will believe our actions don’t matter. But they do matter. Time and again, American democracy has bent under pressure but ultimately refused to break, because ordinary citizens stepped up. This is a moment for courage and conviction from all of us. It’s a time to remember the fundamental American creed: that We the People are the ultimate guardians of our government. Our system gives us the tools to correct course through free speech, free press, peaceful assembly, fair elections, and the checks and balances of our institutions. We must use those tools now, vigorously and relentlessly.
In closing, let us remember what is at stake. The issue before us is not a single policy or a partisan win/lose scoreboard. It is the character of our republic. It is the preservation of a system where no leader is crowned king, where power is granted by the people and constrained by law, and where the transfer of authority is determined by ballots, not decrees. Every generation of Americans has been called to defend liberty in its own way. This is our call. We must not let it go unanswered.
The road ahead may not be easy. It will require Americans of different backgrounds and beliefs to unite in common cause. It will require speaking hard truths and listening to perspectives beyond our own. It may require personal courage and sacrifice. But the cost of doing nothing, of shrugging as democratic norms crumble, is far greater. If we fail to act, we risk awakening one day to find that the democracy we cherish exists only in memory, its loss mourned by our children and grandchildren who ask why we didn’t stop it when we had the chance.
We need to do everything we can to prevent that. Let us rally around the basic principles of governance by the people, for the people. Let us disagree passionately on policy while uniting to protect the process that allows those debates to happen freely. Together, let us reaffirm that in America no one is above the law, and the people alone are sovereign.
This is a moment for national resolve, not despair. If we stand together with urgency and without partisan blinders we can turn back this tide of authoritarianism. We can remind those in power that the American people will not trade their democracy for any man's “golden age,” and that our nation’s greatness comes from our freedom, our institutions, and our ideals, never from the unchecked rule of one individual.
The world is watching how we, as Americans, respond to this moment. History will remember what we choose to do. Let it be recorded that we, the American people, stood up, spoke out, and kept the torch of liberty burning bright for ourselves and for future generations. The time to act in defense of our democratic republic is now.
Sincerely,
A Concerned American Citizen
February 20, 2025