The GOP and the Russian Parallel – America’s Descent into Authoritarianism
We are witnessing a troubling shift in America, one that echoes the trajectory of Russia. The semblance of freedom that Russian citizens experience today is deceptive. They can vote, but they have no real power. As long as they keep quiet and play along, they can go about their lives—mostly. But for those who don’t conform, especially marginalized groups like Asian Russians or dissidents, life under Putin’s regime is far from free. It’s one of control, surveillance, and fear.
Sound familiar?
Under the Trump era, and with the GOP’s increasing alignment with authoritarian ideals, America is slowly heading in the same direction. Yes, we still have our elections. But just like in Russia, our votes may soon be rendered powerless. The machinery of democracy is being eroded behind the scenes, and many Americans, distracted by culture wars and divisive rhetoric, are failing to see the greater danger.
Trump is a Chaos Agent
Trump’s role has always been that of a chaos agent. His job is to create a constant distraction—one that keeps the public and media focused on him, while those pulling the strings in the background work to systematically dismantle the institutions that protect our freedoms. His tactics aren’t new; they’re taken straight from the authoritarian playbook. Divide, conquer, and distract.
But there’s another uncomfortable truth. Just as Russia's government has targeted specific minority groups, America is beginning to follow a similar path. The GOP, with its regressive policies and alliance with extremist groups, has stoked a fire that threatens to consume the freedoms of not just a few, but entire swaths of the population. People of color, immigrants, and others who don't fit the narrow mold of the "American ideal" are at risk of being marginalized and silenced, much like the ethnic minorities in Russia who remain largely invisible to the world.
And as the GOP continues its authoritarian drift, the rest of the country is lulled into complacency. People laugh at the deported, fight over cultural symbols, and believe the distractions. Meanwhile, the people who are really in power are quietly consolidating their control over the nation’s institutions—just like Russia's oligarchs, who pull the strings behind Putin’s regime.
The question is: How much longer will we remain distracted? How long before we, too, lose our ability to freely express dissent and resist tyranny? As history has shown time and time again, once authoritarianism takes root, it’s incredibly difficult to uproot.
The stakes are high, and the time to wake up is now. America is teetering on the brink. If we don’t act, we risk losing everything that makes this country a place of freedom and hope.
What Should We do?
I don’t have the answers. But this is not a “me” problem to solve—it is a “we” problem that must be addressed. As a writer and minister, I walk the line between recognizing human agency and God’s sovereignty. So, instead of prescribing a solution, I pose these questions to you. I hope you will sit with them, gather with others who are as concerned about the land we call home as you are, and have the hard conversations that this moment demands.
Consider:
How do you act against such a heavily armed nation?
History offers some painful lessons:
The MOVE organization in Philadelphia created a counter-movement, and the government responded with bombings.
The Black Panther Party, which focused on feeding the poor and empowering Black communities, was labeled a terrorist group simply because they sought to form a third party and gained support from the public. The response? Violence.
Trump’s regime is not unfamiliar with this playbook. He is already cracking down on free speech, threatening arrests for those who oppose him, and arresting even green card holders for speaking out in support of Palestine.
The reality is we’re already at the tipping point. But here’s the question: What can we do in the face of a well-armed nation and a government willing to use force to silence dissent? I'm not going to tell anyone to take to the streets and risk being slaughtered. The challenge is, how do we fight back when the very system in place is designed to crush resistance, often violently?
