In a recent late-night television appearance, Democratic activist Stacey Abrams reportedly accused President Donald Trump of steering the United States toward autocracy, offering what she called “10 steps to dictatorship” during a discussion that has drawn sharp criticism from conservatives.
Speaking with host Anthony Anderson, Abrams claimed the Trump administration is dismantling democratic institutions and laying the groundwork for authoritarian rule.
Her remarks come amid heightened political rhetoric from the left, as progressive figures ramp up opposition to Trump’s second term.
“You start by winning an election — usually the last real one,” Abrams said, suggesting without evidence that the current president’s 2024 victory may have marked a turning point for American democracy.
She warned of politicized law enforcement, weakened federal agencies, and alleged plans to disrupt future elections — charges that many on the right dismiss as alarmist and unfounded.
Among the supposed warning signs, Abrams cited the replacement of civil servants with political loyalists and the use of federal law enforcement to address domestic unrest.
“You send Marines into cities where they don’t belong. You kidnap people off the street and call it lawful,” she said, referencing federal responses to violent protests during Trump’s first term, which his supporters argue were necessary to restore order and uphold the rule of law.
Abrams also warned of what she sees as creeping control over the judiciary and election systems, suggesting that the Trump administration’s actions amount to a soft coup.
“You deconstruct the agencies. You replace those who refuse to follow illegal orders,” she said. “And finally, you cancel the election.”
Her appearance drew applause from the show’s liberal-leaning audience but was met with skepticism from conservative commentators, who argue Abrams continues to traffic in hyperbole and fear tactics.
Critics note that Abrams has yet to concede her own loss in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race, and they question her credibility in lecturing others on democratic norms.
Supporters of the president maintain that his administration is focused on restoring constitutional order after what they describe as bureaucratic overreach and politicization during previous administrations.
They view Abrams’s comments as part of a broader strategy to delegitimize Trump’s presidency.
While Abrams warned that democracy “dies step by step,” conservatives contend her rhetoric is part of a familiar script — one meant to stir anxiety rather than offer substantive policy debate.
[READ MORE: Fired USAID Staffers Make Desperate Move to Sabotage Trump Admin]
