In the face of President Trumps rising authoritarianism, the Democrats are dithering and history wont forgive hesitation, writesJohn Schumann.

A FEW WEEKS AGO, MSNBC journalist and political commentatorRachel Maddowasked:

Not before time, U.S. citizens are finally beginning to organise, but theyre crying out for a formidable, unifying leader to take it up to PresidentTrump. A leader of the opposition, so to speak.

In this, a comparison with Ukraine is instructive.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States offered to evacuate PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyyfrom Kyiv. Famously, hedeclared, I need ammunition, not a ride, opting to stay to lead the military and the Ukrainian people. In doing so, Zelenskyy set the stage for Ukraines resistance, diplomatic posture and, indeed, its future.

As Maddow correctly implied, resistance to Trump is the responsibility of the people of the United States. However, there is a dismal lack of leadership. Its instructive to contrast Zelenskyys courage with that of the Democrats, whose resistance to Trump seems to be confined to interrogating his appointees in various congressional and Senate committees.

Trumps war on the press paints journalists as spies

Trump once praised WikiLeaks, now he's hinting at using the same law that jailed Julian Assange against journalists.

The United States of America and the world are at an epochal crossroads. Where is the Democrats version ofNelson Mandela, Volodymyr Zelenskyy orAlexei Navalny?

Trump authoritarian, manifestly dishonest and terrifyingly divisive dominates the landscape and the narrative. Aided by his band of sycophantic incompetents, Trump has already laid waste to his countrys global reputation. In five short months, he has jeopardised its economy, deconstructed its public sector and declared war on the U.S. judiciary, the academy and the media.

Like the latter years ofNeros reign, Trumps presidency is self-indulgent, tyrannical, scandal-prone, erratic and paranoid. Masked immigration officials are snatching people off the street, bundling them into cars and disappearing them.

The deployment of the U.S. military against its citizens is profoundly disturbing. Members of the military swear an oath to support and defend theConstitution. While they are subordinate to civilian authority, they are expected to remain apolitical, loyal to the Constitution rather than any individual leader or political party. It is a sacred covenant, and many senior military leaders, current and former, are very distressed at this unprecedented turn of events.

Hard-earned, important alliances are in tatters and an all-pervasive gloom has infected the international mood. Arecent international surveyof 24 countries found that more than half the adults in 19 of them have absolutely no confidence in Trumps leadership. Eighty per cent of these people characterise him as arrogant and two-thirds describe him as dangerous.

Indeed, another recent poll inThe New York Timeson Americas current global standing reveals that its splintering through the floorboards. (While Australians have never been all that well disposed towards the United States, we are recorded as taking a particularly dim view currently to our eternal credit.)

In spite of the Democrats failure to step up, there are some encouraging signs. Trumps polling in key areas is underwater and elements of his MAGA constituency are said to be fraying at the edges. The recent military parade, timed to coincide with his birthday, was poorly attended despite dubious official estimates. On the same weekend, objective estimates are that between 4 and 6 million people participated inNo Kingsrallies in more than 2,100 cities and towns across America.

Dealing with America's 'Toddler in Chief'

The worlds walking on eggshells around a toddler with nukes maybe its time we stopped playing his game.

Still, the Democrats appear to be lacking in courage, unable or unwilling to provide a single rallying point for this burgeoning resistance. The occasional Democrat whingeing on a YouTube podcast and the odd, uncoordinated outburst in the media do not constitute the sort of national leadership which the United States desperately needs.

The Democrats need to get into a room, elect an interim leader with some passion and charisma, rally behind him/her and just get on with it. Im not arguing for former Vice PresidentKamala Harrisnecessarily, but Trump beat her by only 1.5 per cent. He campaigned for four years she campaigned for 107 days.

The partys younger members, not unreasonably, are calling for generational and ideological renewal while senior Democrats desperately cling to the spoils of defeat. The rest of the world would be grateful if they stopped fighting amongst themselves and turned their attention to Trump.

Im not suggesting its easy. In the face of Trumps quasi-fascist and seemingly popular agenda, the Democrats are understandably a bit gun-shy of their vaguely leftward policy positions. They need to get over that, too. Stand for something, anything. If you dont fight, you lose.

I have no doubt that various Democrats have an eye to their own presidential ambitions and have no wish to peak too early or make themselves a hostage to fortune. However, there is much more at stake here for the planet than individual political aspirations.

Those of us old enough to have read a little history are aware that Trump is three or four chapters into theHitlerplaybook. The global ramifications dont bear thinking about.

Somebody needs to pick up a whip and drive this money-changer out of the temple courtyard. Despite Americas predisposition to theologically impoverished, arm-waving, jump-for-Jesus evangelism, Washington is hardly a house of prayer. Its more like a den of thieves.

John Schumannis an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist from Adelaide. He is best known as the lead singer for the folk groupRedgum. Since 2005 he has been performing as part ofJohn Schumann and the Vagabond Crew.

Related Articles

• CARTOONS: Mark David is seeking a ceasefire
• Trump's war on the ICC goes digital with Microsoft as an ally
• Normalising Trump is killing the media's credibility
• Dealing with America's 'Toddler in Chief'
• Emperor Trump's new clothes