One month after the election of Donald Trump I feel more certain about who he is and what he aims to achieve but less certain about who stands in opposition to him. Trump is an aspiring dictator who aims to aggregate his power to reward his friends and punish his enemies.
His nominations are neither surprising nor unexpected. He is elevating his henchmen to key positions without shame or explanation. He seeks to convert the power of the state to a personal arsenal. He wants to transform government policy to enrich himself, his family and his cronies.
None of this is unexpected. It was both predictable and predicted by countless politicians, journalists and civic and business leaders. For months leading up to Election Day there were warnings nearly every day of what would happen if he was returned to power — Project 2025, weaponizing the government, staffing his cabinet with unqualified people loyal to him rather than the nation.
What has surprised me, depressed me and ultimately angered me are the voices that have gone silent. So many who were so loud in warning about the dangers of Trump now speak only in whispers if at all. The critics who were bold and brash when they thought Harris would win are now tamed and seeking accommodation. Media figures who claimed to be the bastion of protection for our democracy now make pilgrimages to temper Trump’s anger.
Martin Luther King Jr. said “the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge.” We are in a time of challenge. The question for every leader, every citizen is where do you stand?
One of the most common refrains I now hear is that people are exhausted and want to tune out politics. I’m sorry you are tired, but you don’t get to claim you are fighting for democracy only when you think your side will win. It is a fight precisely because the other side may prevail. It is exactly in those times that we need your voice, your energy and your action.
Others confess they want to avoid the fight because they are scared. They worry about what Trump might do to them, their families and their jobs. They take Trump literally and seriously when he talks about retribution. They fear the financial, emotional and legal toll of a politically motivated investigation.
It is okay to be afraid. It is natural to worry about what Trump and his minions might do. It is productive to plan to stay safe, secure and sane in a time of uncertainty and insanity. But do you think you will survive that way for four years? Do you really think Trump will spare you because you now show obedience?
He won’t. Trump is a bully and bullies prey on the weak. They understand the power of fear and exploit it. Capitulating to Trump now — even before he has been sworn in — makes you more vulnerable, not less.
When he was 28 and living in the Jim Crow South, King gave another, less famous speech that speaks to our times. He spoke about the need to confront fear with courage.
What we must do is this: do not disengage. It is okay to be fearful, but don’t let it rule you. As King said, “build dikes of courage to ward off the flood of fear.” Start with a simple act of telling a friend that what Trump is doing is wrong. When you have built up the courage, tell a larger group or post it online. When you are ready, join a group or civic organization aimed at protecting our democracy.
If you are a leader who previously boasted about your pro-democracy positions, you have a greater obligation. If you feel obliged to obey Trump, spare us your justifications and rationalizations and just tell us you are too scared to continue the fight. If you feel the need to bow down, then stand down and let someone else with more courage take your spot.
Unfortunately, too many legacy media outlets may have catchy slogans but have already chosen to bow down. They hide behind false neutrality and journalistic “ethics” as an excuse to do nothing.
Donald Trump has not yet taken office. The abuses of his administration have not yet begun. It is going to get worse, much worse. We need to stand up an opposition not for a month or two but for four years or more. To do that, we cannot allow ourselves or our leaders to be too tired. We must insist they have courage or get out of the way.