America is at a breaking point — and Robert Reich isn’t mincing words. In a searing critique of Donald Trump’s authoritarian slide, the former U.S. Labor Secretary warns that the country is “tottering on the edge of dictatorship” and that silence from its leaders is no longer just cowardice — it’s complicity.
Reich’s piece, published in The Guardian, reads like a wake-up call screamed through a megaphone. His central argument is chilling: if Trump’s regime could do this much damage in just 100 days, there may not be a functioning democracy left to salvage after the next 100.
The Rule of Law? Ignored.
The warning signs aren’t abstract — they’re on full display in the courts. Over 120 federal judges, appointed by both parties, have ruled against Trump’s actions. But the regime is bulldozing through judicial authority, ignoring or appealing court orders it doesn’t like. One judge was even arrested in Milwaukee while overseeing a case involving an undocumented defendant — an unheard-of assault on judicial independence.
Even conservatives aren’t spared. Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III — a Reagan appointee and Federalist Society darling — wrote a stunning rebuke after the Trump administration argued it could detain people without due process and ship them to foreign prisons. Wilkinson warned that this precedent would allow the government to target political enemies next.
That’s not a hypothetical — Reich reminds us it’s already happening. ICE recently deported three U.S. citizen children, aged two, four, and seven, after deporting their mothers to Honduras. One of the children has stage 4 cancer and was sent out of the country without medication or medical clearance.
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Attacking America’s Institutions
Trump’s war on democracy isn’t limited to the courts. His administration is targeting independent institutions: universities, nonprofits, media outlets, science agencies, even libraries. Anyone who resists is threatened with defunding or destruction. It’s not governance — it’s a purge.
Now, Trump has weaponized the Justice Department to investigate ActBlue, the fundraising backbone of nearly every Democratic candidate. It’s a blatant political hit job. As Reich writes: “We are no longer Democrats or Republicans. We are either patriots fighting the regime or we are complicit in its tyranny.”
Economic Self-Sabotage
Reich also slams Trump’s economic sabotage. Proposed tariffs are jacking up prices. His public attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell have sent shockwaves through global markets. Even as polls sink, Trump doubles down — because, Reich argues, it’s not about performance. It’s about power.
“Trump wants total power, even at the cost of our democracy and economy,” Reich writes. “His polls are plummeting yet many Americans are still in denial.”
Where Are the Voices?
Perhaps Reich’s harshest criticism is reserved not for Trump, but for those who should be standing up to him — and aren’t. Yes, a few progressives like Bernie Sanders, AOC, and Chris Murphy are speaking out. But the silence from others is deafening.
Where is Bill Clinton? George W. Bush? Al Gore? Dick Cheney? Where are their former cabinet members, their advisors, their staff? These aren’t just private citizens — they’re leaders with platforms. Their absence speaks volumes.
Even university presidents, lawyers, and bar associations — those who’ve finally begun pushing back — are called to go further. The threat isn’t just academic freedom or legal integrity. It’s democracy itself.
Business leaders like JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, typically vocal on public policy, have been eerily quiet. Reich acknowledges they fear retaliation — and perhaps they’re hoping for more tax breaks — but he calls that cowardice by another name.
No Time Left
Reich closes with a dire warning: the midterms in 2026 may be too far away. By then, the damage might be irreversible. He urges the American public to rise up in overwhelming numbers, pressure Congress, and demand a third impeachment — and this time, conviction.
“Americans must be mobilized into such a huge wave of anger and disgust that members of the House are compelled to impeach Trump… and enough senators are moved to finally convict him.”
The alternative? An authoritarian regime with no guardrails, no checks, and no intent to relinquish power.
Final Words
Robert Reich’s takedown of Trump isn’t just a political rant — it’s a blueprint for action. It’s a demand for courage, integrity, and resistance from every sector of American society. Because silence, he says, is no longer neutral. It’s surrender.
