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As summer comes to a close, Donald Trump’s attempts at outright dictatorship have become more explicit and aggressive, and his delusions of omnipotence more grandiose. A complete list would consume all of the space for this article, and more. The slide to one-man rule makes effective resistance all the more urgent, if democracy is to survive. But what sort of resistance?
“In 2025, no form of creative nonviolent resistance is wasted,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) told me. “Everything that builds solidarity and spirit is helpful.” It may be hard to see the impact amid a maelstrom, but individual acts of resistance can collectively make a difference. You never know what might cause the dam to suddenly break and more effective opposition to crystalize in unlikely places.
For instance, several Republicans who had not been willing to publicly oppose Trump on tariffs, Ukraine, bogus declarations of emergency, destruction of valued public institutions, or budget cuts that hurt their constituents frontally opposed Trump in demanding the release of the Jeffrey Epstein documents. The Epstein pressure, seeded in the MAGA grass roots but quickly picked up by Democrats, was catalytic; it led Trump to make outlandish moves and claims in a frantic effort to change the subject, which in turn invited more opposition.
My survey of resistance, broadly defined, suggests that effective opposition often involves bank shots. Citizens can press elected officials to pressure or block Trump and promote noncooperation by state and local government. Broad protests like No Kings Day can demonstrate wide opposition to autocracy and recruit people for more targeted actions. Trump may be impervious to evidence, but publicity of his economic damage can give voters second thoughts. By spotlighting and disrupting Trump’s brutal immigrant kidnappings, activists can recruit more activists and deprive Trump of what was once a winning political issue. Relentless litigation can shame even pro-Trump judges into sometimes doing the right thing. |
