President Donald Trump has long used the term “communists” to deflect blame for his legal and political challenges. Now, in his second term, his administration is applying this loaded label to paint his opponents, including judges and educators, as threats to American identity and values. Trump’s strategy was revealed when he explained his plan to defeat his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, in the previous election by portraying her as a communist or socialist. By labeling Harris as “comrade Kamala,” Trump secured victory with the support of over 77 million voters. However, experts point out that the core beliefs of communism, such as government control over markets, are not widely held in the West. Nevertheless, the term “communist” remains a potent rhetorical weapon, especially in today’s era of social media and misinformation. Trump’s repeated use of this term, along with his advisor Stephen Miller’s recent speeches denouncing so-called “communist woke culture,” seems to target older Americans and stir up controversy. These actions coincide with challenging economic and political news, suggesting a deliberate attempt to shape public opinion and deflect criticism.
“Individuals who grew up in the era of the Cold War,” noted Jacob Neiheisel, a political communications expert at the University at Buffalo, “tend to attach emotionally charged labels to their political opponents as a tactic to undermine their credibility in the public eye and cast them in a negative light.” A prominent figure from the ‘Red Scare’ period had a significant impact on a young Trump, as the fear of communist influence or destruction of the United States loomed for many years, resulting in some of the nation’s darkest moments.
Following World War I and the Russian Revolution of 1917, combined with a surge of immigrants, the country experienced the ‘Red Scare’ of 1920, characterized by intense paranoia regarding the possibility of a communist uprising in America. Post-World War II, the era of “McCarthyism” saw the relentless pursuit of alleged communists, named after Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, who conducted televised hearings at the onset of the Cold War, escalating anti-communist anxieties through a series of threats, insinuations, and falsehoods.
The mere insinuation of being sympathetic to communism had the power to destroy careers and lives, with suspected communists facing blacklists, particularly in Hollywood and beyond. McCarthy ultimately faced disgrace and passed away in 1957. His chief legal advisor during the hearings, Roy Cohn, later became Trump’s mentor and advisor in the 1980s and 1990s, as Trump ascended in New York’s real estate scene amid the continued tensions of the Cold War and the looming nuclear threat.
The collapse of communism in 1989 and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union by 1991 shifted the global landscape, leaving Russia, now under President Vladimir Putin’s leadership, as a prominent player. However, a form of communism persists in China, with Trump embroiled in a trade war that could impact products in the U.S., potentially leading to higher costs for consumers. Amid acknowledgments of potential repercussions from government intervention, Trump argued that China would bear the brunt of the tariffs.
According to Robertson, the contemporary debate is not so much about capitalism versus communism, but rather focuses on the extent of government intervention and its timing. He suggests that Trump’s discourse doesn’t truly revolve around communism and capitalism. Robertson contended that labeling those advocating for increased government involvement as ‘communists’ is a form of misleading political rhetoric that resonates with busy voters who lack the time to delve into technical definitions and economic frameworks. This approach, Robertson added, serves Trump well, as it stirs emotions and incites anger, which can become addictive.
