Whose side is Trump on anyway? Worldwide or at home: it is not pro democracy

 While the Trump regime dismantles cybersecurity agencies responsible for protecting the US from foreign intervention in our elections,  it is busy supporting anti-democratic movements and pro-Russian cohorts abroad. From Germany to Bosnia lately, Trump and his close supporters get credit for wins by anti-democratic forces.  The success of the AfD political party winning an election in a German state, Saxony, shook many with the fear that a neo-Nazi-tinged party like AfD (described as a far right party) signaled a resurgence of fascism in Germany. Who did the AfD thank for their win? Elon Musk..  Money in politics in Europe is carefully regulated, and there is no evidence Musk contributed that, but what he did was offer verbal political and moral support, for which the AfD gave thanks.  

In a country I follow closely, Bosnia, a pro-Russia party won in the Serbian ethnic-friendly semi-autonomous Republika Srpska, and gave credit for their win to Trump. and Putin. 

What the heck is going on here?  The view by a centrist publication, Der Spiegel in Germany, of the US was not only expressing fear of fascism (currently a similarly approved term as the far-right) rising again there, but  it has a brutal view that it has already risen in the US.. From their recent English-language Substack: ""Compared to the situation in the United States, the far right has not made significant inroads in Germany. .... In the US, by contrast, Trump holds the most powerful office in the world – for a second time. He is surrounded by a nationalist circle of advisers, backed by majorities in both chambers of Congress, supported by paramilitary police units, and secure in the knowledge that three of the nine justices on the Supreme Court were chosen by him." 

It is bad enough that Trump has spent the past two years subverting and purging the federal government, the "deep state" of capable civil servants and military, and replacing them only with those who pledge loyalty to him.   His foreign policy has clearly favored the bad actors of the world, the dictators, mostly communists or former communists, whom Trump so openly admires, making it clear he also supports anti-democratic forces elsewhere.  A red carpet for XI and his failure to give Ukraine help are glaring examples. At home,  he is threatening regularly to use the military or ICE to "police" voting in the midterms and to grab as much federal (Trump) control of who and how gets to vote..He has spent the past two years subverting our election system by supporting political gerrymandering and constantly attempting to wrest control of elections from the states he fears lean purple or blue.

Whose side is he on, anyway?  It certainly is not pro-democracy at home or abroad.

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https://www.ajc.org/news/what-is-germanys-afd-and-what-does-its-rise-mean-for-jews

per Google AI: The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is not officially classified as a neo-Nazi party, though German domestic intelligence and courts have formally categorized parts of it—and at times the party as a whole—as right-wing extremist or anti-constitutional. [1, 2, 3]https://www.google.com/search?q=recent+rise+of+neo+fascist+parties+in+europe&oq=recent+rise+of+neo+fascist+parties+in+europe&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigATIHCAUQIRigATIHCAYQIRifBdIBCjI0MzUwajBqMTWoAgiwAgHxBYt3eWoP5eg08QWLd3lqD-XoNA&sourceid=chrome&source=chrome.rb&ie=UTF-8

https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2026/09/once-us-was-model-to-world-of-how.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/16/us/politics/trump-election-security-cisa.html

https://thehill.com/policy/international/6074993-afd-wins-german-election-elon-musk/

From Google AI 

Milorad Dodik's pro-Russia Alliance of Independent Social Democrats claimed a decisive victory in Bosnia's October 4, 2026 local and entity elections, publicly crediting U.S. President Donald Trump's return to power and Russian President Vladimir Putin's support for the win. [1, 2]

Key Details of the Election and Speech

The Leader & Party: Bosnian Serb nationalist Milorad Dodik—who was previously banned from holding political office and was not on the ballot—led the victory celebration for his party, the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD). [1, 2]
The Trump and Putin Credit: In his victory speech in Banja Luka, Dodik stated that thanks to the "new environment" and U.S. leadership under Donald Trump alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, his political movement survived rather than becoming "political corpses".

VOTE NO ON COLORADO PROP 133 REGARDNG HUMAN TRAFFICKING

 Vote no on 133. Those who have followed me over the years know that I have been an anti-human trafficking activist, beginning when I helped fund an NGO through a Rotary Grant for the prevention of that horrible practice in Bosnia, only to learn that much of the same was going on in the USA. The Epstein issue was very instructive, to say the least. It may surprise those in Colorado that I oppose Prop 133 on the ballot, which increases penalties for criminals convicted of trafficking. However, the sleeper deal-killer is that it puts an extra burden on the victims because this measure could catch survivors who were forced by their trafficker to recruit minors and trap them in life without parole. The vague "anything of monetary value" language also makes it difficult to prosecute some cases. This position was not without debate, and I am grateful to fellow activists for their research.

How No Kings, affordability anger, DSA's rise, ,AI- data centers flap, federalized elections,are all connected

 Watching the medterms shape up, I get the impression that Democrats are on two separate tracks, yet the two are joined at the hip.  One was the fear that Trump was destroying democracy to be replaced by something more akin to fascism, and the other was affordability and other related pocketbook issues. They are just separate sides of the same coin: Trump the authoritarian believes he can ignore the economic pain of the masses to stay in power because he is so powerful. Tyrants and dictators have always believed they can ignore the unrest of the masses they govern because they gain the power, not from the voters, but from control of the reins of force.  In mid-August in Michigan, rumbles of complaint about the cost of gas were met by Trump with "suck it up" .Trump has called "affordability" a "hoax", a "con job".  

JD Vance was reported to tell a Florida political candidate with affiliation with Democratic Socialism that she did not belong in America. Aside from his insult to the First Amendment, it was an obvious appeal to Cuban-Americans in that state, and reminded them that they fled to America because of socialism. I am no Democratic Socialist, and I object to replacing capitalism with that failed economic system. However, Socialism as practiced in Scandinavian countries is also firmly grounded in democracy. It works for them, and polls show them among the happiest in the world, and it works well for their traditions and sociology.  What is different about those from Cuba, Latin America,  and others that sparked the surge to the US in the past recent history is socialism and /or capitalism combined with dictatorship forms of government wth disdain for human rights, punishment of dissenters,  rule of a strong man instead of the rule of law, and control of courts and police powers. Leaders were stuffing their pockets, or so devoted to retaining power that they failed to deal with poverty. That created the exit from their country of those seeking "freedom", freedom from poverty and freedom from oppression of their human rights.  Desperate people with no hope for the future take desperate measures. 

When dictatorships are combined with the captains of private industry and the military elsewhere, we have called that fascism, but the instruments and methods of governing by a dictator are similar even if the ideology is communism or a form of socialism. Elections are for show; the strong hand of the leader dictates who, where ,and how the elections happen. When the agenda is set, and government chosen that is responsive to the people, directly or through their elected representatives, in free and fair elections,  we call that one a democracy.  

 https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/angie-nixon-jd-vance-ashley-moody-florida-senate-october-2026/

(My preferred economic system favors "capitalism with a social safety net, in case you wonder. No one goes bankrupt being sick or giving birth; everybody can have an education; no one is left on the streets. Basic human rights" as expressed so well in  a recent post I saw.)

Others abroad are watching us closely, and how they view us may come as a shock.  They are seeing how this midterm is unfolding and are disturbed. How some in the German press see it, MAGA is on the fascist track, offset or challenged by a revolt against Trump's economy that favors the rich at the expense of a struggling middle class. They see the connection between the two tracks, too.  

From my prior post: https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2026/09/once-us-was-model-to-world-of-how.html

Until recently, and since my junior year abroad in Berlin in the late 1950's, a unified Germany had sought to construct a liberal democracy using the US as a model (though the parliamentary system differs).  Der Spiegel's editorial expressed fear that the rest of Germany was just hand-wringing, with no idea what to do when the far-right political party, the AfD,  won a state election in Saxony.  Were the neo Nazis reviving? AfD has sometimes been accused of promoting fascist governance. (Der Spiegel is the German magazine version of Time or Newsweek, centrist)  The new model of how to stop this AfD march to more power was: brace yourself- the resistance to Trump in the USA, and in particular, the immediate reaction of his banning reporters from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico, followed by the boycott of other media in solidarity to even cover the White House.   (Update: the judge reviewing the suit filed against Trump by the banned networks temporarily restored their press passes.)

The  Der Spiegel opinion piece was a shocker to me, too, that  Trump was even viewed in the same category as the AfD, and that instead of the government of the US being the role model for how democracy should be run and act, it was the USA's local grassroots resistance movement to Trump and his policies that was now a model. If anyone understands "far right", or fascism, it is Germany.  There is a great fear among many there of its resurgence.

How does Der Spiegel see Trump and his regime in the US?  "Compared to the situation in the United States, the far right has not made significant inroads in Germany. .... In the US, by contrast, Trump holds the most powerful office in the world – for a second time. He is surrounded by a nationalist circle of advisers, backed by majorities in both chambers of Congress, supported by paramilitary police units, and secure in the knowledge that three of the nine justices on the Supreme Court were chosen by him."

The  Der Spiegel opinion piece was inspired by examples of US resistance, such as the immediate boycott by unbanned White House reporters also refusing to cover the White House media pool when Trump attempted to ban CNN, MSNow, and Politico, because he did not like how they reported his news.  Also cited as examples of resistance in the US were the local nature of the anti-AI data centers, the Minneapolis grassroots action against ICE, and more.  Der Spiegel urged those in Germany who feared the AfD to go and do likewise. 

I might add that NO Kings Day on Oct. 17 is an opportunity for those in Germany to see how peaceful resistance is done, and to add their moral support to the "resistance' in the US."

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2026/08/17/michigan-gas-prices/91335542007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z1150xxp001050l001050c001050e1150xxv002267d--55--b--55--&gca-ft=170&gca-ds=soph

ihttps://derspiegel.substack.com/

https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/alternative-germany-afd-party-what-you-need-know

(My preferred economic system favors "capitalism with a social safety net, in case you wonder. No one goes bankrupt being sick or giving birth; everybody can have an education; no one is left on the streets. Basic human rights" as expressed so well in  a recent post I saw.)

From Google AI for sources, search Trump and affordability

President Donald Trump dismissed the term "affordability" as a Democrat scam and a "con job", claiming that cost-of-living concerns are a fake narrative pushed by political opponents despite ongoing high prices for housing and groceries. [1, 2, 3]

Dismissal as a Hoax: Trump asserted that affordability is a political construct created by Democrats. [1, 2]

Hegseth remakes military in the image of himself

Yesterday at Quantico, Pete Hegseth touted his success in remaking the military into a mirror of himself, substituting muscle for brains. His remarks were full of fanatical views about culture and demanded that military chaplains conform to his brand of white Christian nationalism: https://www.npr.org/2026/09/x-s1-5986304/hegseth-troops-address

Whether Hegseth is a white nationalist is that those in upper levels of the Pentagon he has fired are mostly those of color and women. Speculation that he is a "white" Christian nationalist mostly stems from a tattoo on his chest often associated with white supremacist groups. He is particularly focused on animosity toward those of Muslim faith. His obsession with testosterone levels of troops could be fueled by his belief that women should be subservient to men, a core value of his religious sect.

I was not aware that the failure to have the military display high testosterone levels or low diversity membership were the reasons for the failure to guide Trump into the Iran blunder or that muscle was lacking. He has, since the beginning, claimed that anyone attempting not to commit war crimes was a traitor (he charged 6 in Congress for that). His policy clearly is for "his" military to ignore committing war crimes and increase aggressive behavior, and not worry about killing civilians.
" No fatties, no trannies, no beardos, no weirdos, no wimps, no radicals. Just warriors," Hegseth said on Wednesday. "The ideological clowns are out. The patriotic cowboys are in, with testosterone testing on top." Unity is in, he asserts. It's clear diversity is out, and unity is achieved by making all in the military look and act like him.
"Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition," the old song goes. OOPS, he forgot to order more... OOPS, do whatever his dear master orders and ignore strategic planning; no need to do that either. So fire the military with brains and experience and make sure the chaplain corps gets the message to preach his religious ideology.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/pete-hegseths-christian-rhetoric-reignites-scrutiny-after-the-u-s-goes-to-war-with-iran

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/10/what-to-know-about-hegseths-new-office-of-religious-affairs/

From Goodgle AI

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has targeted and fired top-ranking, high-profile uniformed leaders, service chiefs, and specialized officers whom he and the administration characterized as part of the "status quo" or insufficiently aligned with their warrior ethos and strategic priorities. [1, 2, 3]

Key Generals and Admirals Fired or Ousted

Joint Chiefs and Service Heads: Hegseth removed high-level leaders including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General C.Q. Brown, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, and Army Chief of Staff General Randy George. [1, 2]
Specialized and Command Officers: He dismissed leaders such as Army Chief of Chaplains Major General William Green Jr., Commander of Army Transformation and Training Command General David Hodne, and Defense Intelligence Agency head Air Force Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse. [1, 2]
Military Lawyers: Early in his tenure, he cleared out top uniformed lawyers, firing the Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Army, Lieutenant General Joseph B. Berger III, and the JAG of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Charles Plummer. [1]

Characteristics and Reasons Cited

"Woke" and Diversity Focus: Hegseth frequently criticized senior leadership for being overly focused on diversity initiatives rather than frontline combat readiness. [1, 2]
Strategic Disagreements: Several oustings followed friction over military assessments, policy roadblocks, or stalled promotions (including blocking specific officer promotions). [1, 2]
Overhaul and Reduction: Hegseth announced broader workforce reductions aiming to cut 20% of the active-duty general and admiral positions across the armed forces, famously summarizing the leadership shift with the phrase "Clowns out, cowboys in". [1, 2]

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  BBC

  'Clowns out, cowboys in,' says Hegseth as a fifth of generals ...

  'Clowns out, cowboys in,' says Hegseth as a fifth of generals and admirals are fired 15 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on G...

  

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not replaced the entire military clergy, but he has restructured the Chaplain Corps, ousted top leadership, and launched a new Office of Religious Affairs that critics condemn as a Christian nationalist push. [1, 2]