President Donald Trump denounced Democrats as “communists” after the self-described democratic socialists won the New York primary last week, heralding a new focus for his campaign in this year’s midterm elections.
While it was a novelty in his recent speeches, the line of attack was similar to those he used throughout the 2024 campaign and drew on a centuries-old right-wing tradition that spans the original America First movement of the 1930s and the investigations led by Sen. Joseph McCarthy, R-Wis., in the 1950s.
Although his speech was calm and measured, Trump used demonizing and dehumanizing language to describe his political opponents and issued violent warnings about their intentions. “They are animals,” the president said last Friday, addressing Christian conservatives at a Faith and Freedom Coalition symposium in Washington, DC. “We have to stop this, this horrible cancer that is invading our country called communism.”
Speaking in the same ballroom at the Washington Hilton Hotel where a gunman allegedly tried to kill him during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last April, he clearly warned that communists often resort to murder. The suspect has pleaded not guilty. “I hope we have a little more pleasant experience,” Trump said of his return to the site, where the attempt on the life of former President Ronald Reagan also took place in 1981.
Private security guards stood by the ballroom doors throughout the speech, while Secret Service agents, dressed in tactical gear, held rifles just outside the doors minutes before Trump arrived. The crowd of Christian conservatives gave some polite laughter when Trump began talking about the threat of communism, such as when he said he “would be the greatest communist in history.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, from now on, you won’t have to pay rent,” Trump said sarcastically. “From now on, whoever wants a house, don’t worry. Let them choose the one they want. Everyone will receive free food!” But the audience remained mostly silent as he delivered the most dire of his warnings, and Trump himself seemed unenthused as he read from the teleprompter about the “atheist” communists he claimed were taking control of the Democratic Party.
Trump’s low-key tone was consistent with his other speeches last week, in which he was less vehement about the midterm elections than in previous election cycles. The president clashed with congressional Republicans last week by abruptly canceling the signing of a bipartisan bill to reduce housing costs and insisting that they agree to his demand to approve new voting restrictions.
Trump claimed that communists pose a special threat to Christians, referring to violence in countries like Nigeria, where the United Nations says communism is not a factor and most of the victims are Muslim. “They will close their churches in this country,” Trump said. “They will kill their people. And that is what they intend.” Trump had already attacked Democrats calling them communists. He often called Kamala Harris a Marxist based on his father’s economic research.
He also used the term communist against New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, except during a brief three-month respite earlier this year. Trump’s renewed interest arose after candidates backed by Mamdani and identified with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) swept the House of Representatives primaries in New York last Tuesday.
This left-wing group aims to expand nationally, but faces tests in upcoming primaries in Denver, Detroit and South Florida, where DSA candidates have less experience than in New York, an electorate with different demographic characteristics, and lack a mayoral candidate.
Trump accused the Democrats of failing to resist the socialist advance. Earlier this month, moderate House Democrats made a commitment to distance themselves from the DSA, and reaffirmed their commitment to capitalism and centrism. According to an analysis of polls by Marquette University pollster Charles Franklin, 40% of Democrats have a favorable opinion of the DSA, the same proportion who say they have not heard enough to form an opinion.
Among all American adults, 21% had a favorable opinion; 47%, an unfavorable opinion, and 31% had not heard enough.
Ralph Reed, president of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, called the speech deliberate and with a clear purpose. “I felt like it was important to say it,” Reed said. While he acknowledged that Trump’s current approval ratings are too low, he expressed optimism that lower gas prices will improve Republicans’ chances.
Reed commented that, in his opinion, Trump’s statements last Friday were a “good message” for the midterm elections.
“If we do our job right and they understand that there is a contrast between a conservative with common sense and a crazy person, they will certainly change these numbers,” Reed said.