On July 7, 2026, President Donald Trump initiated the trading day by ringing the ceremonial opening bell from the Oval Office, a first for any president, signaling a close association between state power and financial markets. Shortly after, Senator Ted Cruz praised Trump’s new savings accounts initiative as a “New Deal” aimed at fostering capitalism among Americans rather than government dependency.

In response to recent primary election wins by democratic socialists and progressive allies in New York and other areas, Trump and Republican supporters have launched a campaign to label Democrats as communists. This strategy revives language reminiscent of the John Birch Society, a tactic that had fallen out of common use.

Speaking at Mount Rushmore during the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Trump described communism as "death, tyranny, and the pursuit of evil," accusing it of justifying inhuman visions and rejecting goodness.

Fox News host Jesse Watters criticized the Democratic Party, saying, “The party did it to themselves. They screwed up so badly and didn’t deliver a damned thing when they had power, that they had to play footsie with commies to shore up their base.”

Former White House adviser Matt Mowers told NewsMax that Trump’s timing, just before the nation’s 250th independence celebration, was intended to be divisive, stating, “He’s trying to tear people apart at a time when we should be united and celebrating.”

Far-right commentator Barbara Boyd of Promethean Action suggested that branding Democrats as socialists and communists could help Republicans in the upcoming midterms, noting Americans’ general aversion to socialism. Boyd also emphasized the need to make the culture Trump is fostering “self-conscious to our people” rather than merely attacking opponents as “crazy.”

These developments mark a significant escalation in partisan rhetoric as the midterm elections approach.

Sources