- A sustained protest or movement could be organized to undermine the Trump administration in the name of resisting government actions perceived as unjust or discriminatory.
- The Democratic Party which was known for its centrist views is now being held hostage by far-left woke progressive views, often advocating for deep systemic change.
- The USA just like India has a majority who are centrists but if the far-left keeps pushing the Republicans, who also have people with extreme views, it could lead to social paralysis and administrative entropy.
Ever since Donald J Trump took the oath of office on the 20th of January 2025, there has been a growing movement to delegitimize his victory. A meltdown of biblical proportion has ensued in the Democratic Party and among its leaders. Their supporters are literally speaking the language of insurrection. Many Democrat supporters reportedly took leave from schools and offices to overcome the emotional trauma of the Dems losing the election.
More alarming is what one is hearing from the liberal mainstream media and many of the politicians in the democratic who have simply not accepted the mandate of the people. What transpired on 6th January 2020, in Washington when Capitol Hill was stormed allegedly by the supporters of Donald Trump was a date that shall live in infamy. But now the Democrats seemingly want to repeat it.
Soon after Trump announced that he would dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), panic and anger have set in. It was no secret that past US administrations used USAID as a front to promote its agenda and even indulged in regime change operations. As startling facts about USAID tumble out, it has now been revealed that hundreds of millions of dollars were spent on things and events that have nothing to do with actual aid.
For example, $446,700 was given to promote the expansion of atheism in Nepal through the State Department[1]. One million dollars was given to boost French-speaking LGBTQ groups in West and Central Africa through the State Department among some of the most ridiculous things.
Taste of its own Medicine!
It seems the US will now taste its own medicine as it faces the spectre of political protests and divisions that are akin to the Shaheen Bagh protests in India. Shaheen Bagh is a neighbourhood in Delhi that is an important transport artery. It became the epicentre of prolonged protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in India. The protest was largely led by Islamist groups, left-liberals and a host of other anti-BJP interests that wanted to bake their political agendas in the name of religious inclusivity, state power, and civil liberties. These protests ended after the Delhi riots that led to several people getting killed in communal violence.
Now the left-wing Democrats could intensify the political conflict, or “Intifada,” a term that refers to uprisings, particularly in the Palestinian context same as Shaheen Bagh. This analogy suggests that a Trump victory could spark a forceful, potentially combative reaction from the left, possibly through protests, activism, bureaucratic subversion and violent civil disobedience.
The US now faces the same problem that it encouraged in India and many other countries. Going by the statements made by many Democratic leaders including former Vice President Kamala Harris in her concession speech, a sustained protest or movement could be organized to undermine the Trump administration in the name of resisting government actions perceived as unjust or discriminatory. At present the Democratic Party has many rabble-rousers supported by the liberal media and clueless Hollywood.
The Dems – Hostage of Woke-Left!
The Democratic Party which was known for its centrist views is now being held hostage by far-left woke progressive views, often advocating for deep systemic change (e.g., wealth redistribution, gender identity racial justice, climate action, etc.). These positions are too radical and destabilizing even after the fact that Trump not only won the Electoral College he also won the popular vote. It is clear that within the Democratic Party is a power that is vengeful in victory and malice in defeat.
Even though there was a fear of a contentious election result, Trump getting a clear majority and getting votes from all sections, races, and religions proves that if the Democrats hit the streets to protest it will only further intensify the divide. Many liberals also view Trump as a potential threat to democratic institutions and voting rights which is unfounded. Concerns centre on the possibility of policies that limit protest rights, the risk of biased judicial appointments, and further polarization in government. Fear of increased hate crimes and a rise in divisive rhetoric are accelerants that can further fuel protests.
Activist organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)[2] have indicated that they are prepared to challenge policies they see as unconstitutional, just as they did in Trump’s first term through both legal action and public mobilization. Such concerns are echoed especially among young, progressive voters, who call for sustained activism and legal resistance to defend democratic values and the rights of marginalized populations during Trump’s new term.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)[3] has also voiced grave concern over Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential win, especially regarding its potential to escalate political violence, misinformation, and extremist rhetoric. The SPLC highlights that, since Trump’s initial election in 2016, extremist ideologies and hate groups have gained mainstream traction which is simply not true. It is the left that is supporting the Pro Palestine movements in universities across the US which is starting to look more like Madrasas that indoctrinate.
Conclusion
Though the term “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (TDS)[4] is an informal term, used by supporters of Donald Trump, to describe intense opposition or negative emotional reactions to him and his policies. Though the term itself is largely rhetorical, the phenomenon it describes—the extreme polarization and strong reactions that Trump elicits—has been studied in various psychological and political contexts.
There is however a movement that is gathering some strength within the Democratic Party that wants to look beyond this loss and work with President Trump. Some sane voices are now saying that the party must look beyond identity politics which is losing those votes and care more about issues that have an impact on the everyday life of Americans who simply want to live peacefully.
The USA just like India has a majority who are centrists but if the far-left keeps pushing the Republicans, who also have people with extreme views, it could lead to social paralysis and administrative entropy. The US for decades have used protests as a form to destabilize governments and regimes all over the world but now it seems it faces the prospect of facing its own Shaheen Baghs.
References:
- [1] https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/press-release/chairman-mast-exposes-outrageous-usaid-and-state-department-grants/
- [2] https://www.aclu.org/our-47th-president-donald-trump
- [3] https://www.splcenter.org/sites/default/files/splc_the_trump_effect.pdf
- [4] https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-democrat-says-party-needs-get-past-trump-derangement-syndrome
Balaji is a freelance writer with an MA in History and Political science and has published articles on defence and strategic affairs and book reviews. He tweets @LaxmanShriram78. Views expressed are the author’s own.
Shashank Pandey 
Aayush Pal 
Lakshmi Karlekar