President Donald Trump recently warned that communism could threaten the U.S. if Democrats win the upcoming midterm elections. During a visit to the newly finished Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota, he stated it is a greater threat than World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor, and September 11th. At the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s 2026 policy conference, he criticized Democrats as ‘hardcore, godless Communists’. These statements followed victories by democratic socialist candidates, echoing similar narratives from his political career.
Experts dismiss these assertions from Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and other Republican figures as inaccurate. Here are key facts about the situation:
TRUMP: ‘It’s becoming a communist party. These are not social Democrats, these are hardcore, godless Communists.’
THE FACTS: No candidate openly belonging to the U.S. Communist Party has been elected to state or federal office. While some Democratic fringes support communist ideas, they still advocate for a market-based economy. Experts view painting the entire party with such a broad brush as misleading.
Trump disparagingly calls Democrats ‘Dumocrats’. Marc Selverstone of the University of Virginia’s Miller Center points out no major Democratic figures identify as communists. Democratic socialists, who push for universal healthcare and corporate regulation, remain far from core communist beliefs like abolishing private property.
Trump’s Strategy: Over time, Trump has used labels like communist to define opponents, framing them as threats. In August 2024, at his New Jersey golf club, he discussed labeling Democratic adversaries, including then-Vice President Kamala Harris, to gain political leverage.
The Communist Party’s Role Today: Communist Party USA, led by Joe Sims, acknowledges its limited influence in U.S. politics despite gaining around 20,000 members recently. Sims confirmed no current Democratic figures in office align with their party’s doctrine.
Individual Cases: Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist, won a Democratic nomination in New York City. Despite past social media content hinting at communist sympathy, she identifies solely as a democratic socialist. Similarly, Graham Platner, a Maine Democratic primary winner, rebuffed inaccurate labels, clarifying he is neither a communist nor a socialist.
History and Context: Professor Harvey Klehr from Emory University notes it’s improbable Democrats identifying with communist ideas are actual Communist Party members. While a few communists have held local offices, no state or federal victories occurred. The trend of baselessly labeling opponents as communists or Marxists can be traced back to the McCarthy era, backed by figures like Roy Cohn, Trump’s former mentor. Maurice Isserman from Hamilton College sees these accusations as a longstanding tactic within the Republican party to discredit opposition.