Talking with a friend about the presidential election, I was frustrated, especially about Trump’s potential return. My friend, let’s call him Dave, shrugged it off. He was like, “Gil, man, whoever wins, we’ll survive—just ride it out, do our best, and try again in four years.” But I don’t think it’s that simple. It’s as if people are convinced that if Trump takes office again, it’s just a temporary setback like he’ll be gone in four years no matter what. But I can’t shake the thought that this time around, it’s different.
Remember how, back when he first became president, he was new to the game. Sure, he had wild policies and extreme ideas, but there were people around him—advisors, government officials, seasoned politicians—who managed to curb some of his worst impulses. Think back to that infamous “Muslim ban.” It was horrifying, but a lot of people worked to rein it in. Fast forward a bit, and we saw him undermine intelligence agencies, like when he sat right next to Vladimir Putin and publicly sided with him over his own intelligence officials on Russia’s election interference. It was surreal to watch like he’d traded truth for flattery on live TV.
Or look at what happened during the Black Lives Matter protests after George Floyd’s death. People were protesting peacefully at first, yet Trump had no qualms about deploying the National Guard to shut them down. It was a disturbing display of force that might have ended very differently if things had escalated further.
By 2020, he was already laying the groundwork for what he’d do if he lost the election. Over and over, he told people the election would only go against him if it was rigged. When he lost, he didn’t back down; he doubled down, turning to officials like Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, practically begging him to “find” votes. And when that didn’t work? He and his allies launched one lawsuit after another, spinning a false narrative of fraud and feeding it to his followers. This wasn’t just another sore loser; it was someone trying to bend reality.
Then came January 6, 2021—the day Trump incited that mob, told them to march to the Capitol and made them feel like they were fighting for the country’s soul. His supporters weren’t just following orders; they believed wholeheartedly in his words. We saw what that turned into: the storming of the Capitol, threats on lawmakers’ lives, and violence that left people dead. And to this day, Trump refuses to accept he lost.
This isn’t some abstract warning. Trump’s potential return to office brings real, tangible threats to the democratic norms we rely on. He’s admired authoritarian leaders—Kim Jong-un, Putin, Erdogan—as if they represent strength, not tyranny. These aren’t just “tough leaders” he looks up to; they’re people who consolidate power ruthlessly. Trump once said he wished people would “sit up at attention” when he spoke, just like North Koreans do for Kim. That’s not someone who respects democracy.
And it’s not just words. Throughout his presidency, he labeled the press as the “enemy of the people,” encouraged attacks on journalists, and undermined the Justice Department by attempting to use it against political opponents. Think about the chants of “Lock her up!” at his rallies, aimed at Hillary Clinton. That wasn’t just hype—it was his genuine intent. He even mused about prosecuting other officials, like former FBI director James Comey, for investigating him. If he returns to power, why wouldn’t he go further?
Then there’s his tendency to mold loyalty into a weapon. Trump doesn’t just want competent advisors; he wants blind loyalty. When former FBI Director James Comey testified that Trump demanded personal loyalty over loyalty to the country, it was a chilling reminder of how Trump sees power. He used “acting” officials to skirt Senate confirmation, stacking his administration with allies who’d do as he asked.
And the red flags don’t end there. Trump has hinted he deserves more than two terms, joked about staying in power beyond his legal limits, and floated ideas of self-pardoning for his crimes. This isn’t democracy; it’s a power grab. It’s also not far from Hitler’s rise to power in 1930s Germany. I know it sounds extreme—but look at the playbook. Hitler exploited Germany’s political instability, eventually consolidating power until he was president and chancellor, the all-powerful Führer. Once he had that title, no one could keep him in check.
America today has its political fractures. Almost half of the country is willing to rally behind Trump despite the chaos he’s caused. And this time, he’s not some political rookie. He knows how to work the system and surrounds himself with loyalists who will do his bidding without question. He’s even floated the idea of putting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in charge of public health, like letting the fox guard the henhouse. Kennedy, infamous for his anti-vaccine stance, has drawn comparisons to Josef Mengele—Hitler’s “Angel of Death.” With Trump in power, such figures could redefine what public health and safety mean, perhaps making them far less about science and more about ideology.
And this brings me back to my friend’s casual belief that “we’ll have another chance in four years.” I don’t see it. Trump has shown that he has no respect for democratic processes, no loyalty to the Constitution, and no remorse for instigating violence. If he gets back in, I doubt he’ll willingly let go. Look at how close he came to succeeding on January 6. He still has an army of followers who’ll act on his word—and they believe him.
I’m Puerto Rican. My parents and my three older sisters were all born and raised on the island. Trump has made it clear what he thinks of people like us. Remember the paper towels he tossed to Puerto Ricans after Hurricane Maria? That wasn’t help; it was a slap in the face. With his talk of mass deportations, I can’t shake the fear that people like me could become casualties of his vision for America. People assume history doesn’t repeat itself, but I look at Operation Wetback in the 1950s and wonder if we’re about to see a modern version. And if deporting millions becomes too costly or complex, where will they go? Encampments? Detention centers? History shows us where such places can lead.
To those saying Trump’s return would be just another election, I say look again. Hitler’s reign didn’t end until 12 years later, after a world war. It literally took the entire Allied forces to dismantle his regime. In America today, we might not be facing the same landscape as 1930s Germany, but the seeds are eerily familiar. January 6 wasn’t just a one-off; it was a test run. And it almost worked.
So no, this election isn’t just another shot at the White House. If Trump wins, it could begin an era in which we can’t simply “wait out” until the next election. History warns us what happens when democracy is taken for granted—and this time, I don’t think we’ll get another chance in four years.