Trump Calls Foes Communists, Drawing Historic Parallels/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump has reintroduced the “communist” label to describe political opponents in his second term, drawing from Cold War-era rhetoric. Critics and historians say the term is misleading and emotionally manipulative, used to delegitimize adversaries and inflame older voters. Experts warn that such rhetoric echoes past American paranoia and distracts from real policy debates.
“Communist” Rhetoric Quick Looks:
- Trump brands opponents as “communists” and “radical leftists”
- Historians say rhetoric echoes McCarthy-era fearmongering
- Experts: Communism claims are factually inaccurate
- Phrase resonates especially with older Cold War-era voters
- Roy Cohn, Trump’s former mentor, helped fuel 1950s Red Scare
- Trump used the term to define Kamala Harris in 2024 race
- Critics say it’s part of a strategy to delegitimize institutions
- Economic news and political polling triggered recent outbursts
Deep Look: Trump Leans on Cold War Language to Frame 2025 Political Strategy
WASHINGTON (AP) – In his second term, President Donald Trump has ramped up his use of Cold War rhetoric, labeling political opponents — from judges to professors — as “communists”. It’s a calculated linguistic tool, observers say, aimed at inflaming cultural grievances and stoking fear rather than offering accurate political critique.
Trump has long flirted with anti-communist terminology, but now the term “communist” is central to how he frames dissent.
“All we have to do is define our opponent as being a communist,” Trump said in 2024. He later referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Comrade Kamala.”
What Trump Means by “Communist” — And What He Doesn’t
In the modern economic sense, communism refers to state-controlled economies like China, Cuba, North Korea, or Vietnam — systems that few Western politicians advocate.
“Unless they are arguing that the government should run U.S. Steel and Tesla, they are simply not communists,” said Raymond Robertson, economist at Texas A&M’s Bush School.
Despite this, Trump uses the label as a catch-all insult for opponents pushing for more inclusive education, immigration reform, or diversity policies — issues far removed from Marxist economics.
A Convenient Distraction From Economic Turbulence
Trump’s most recent anti-communist comments came during a speech in Michigan, coinciding with troubling political headlines:
- An AP-NORC poll revealed growing dissatisfaction with Trump’s agenda
- The U.S. economy shrank in Q1 2025 amid his aggressive tariff policy
- Key Republican supporters began voicing ambivalence about his priorities
In a sign of messaging strategy, Trump adviser Stephen Miller invoked the word “communist” four times in one press briefing while attacking Biden-era policies on immigration, gender identity, and diversity.
“Trump is capitalizing on a rhetorical trick that resonates with voters who associate communism with fear and betrayal,” said Jacob Neiheisel, political communications expert at the University at Buffalo.
Cold War Nostalgia: Why “Communist” Still Works
The use of “communist” as a slur harkens back to the Red Scare and McCarthyism, when mere accusations of communist sympathy could ruin careers and end lives.
The fear of a communist takeover fueled:
- Post-WWI paranoia and immigrant suspicion
- The Hollywood blacklist and cultural censorship
- Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s televised witch hunts in the 1950s
Trump has indirect ties to that era: his former mentor and fixer Roy Cohn was McCarthy’s chief counsel during those hearings. Cohn taught Trump the political power of attacking opponents, never apologizing, and creating media spectacles.
Communism Today: A Different Reality
Today, communism is largely limited to a handful of authoritarian regimes — with China being the most prominent. Ironically, Trump’s economic war with China involves massive tariffs that have disrupted U.S. markets and increased consumer costs.
Yet in his rhetoric, the term “communist” is applied not to China’s government, but to Democratic judges, educators, and civil rights advocates.
“It’s not about capitalism vs. communism anymore,” Robertson said. “It’s about what kind of role the government should play in a market economy.”
Strategic Messaging for 2025 Voters
Trump’s anti-communist messaging serves two goals:
- Delegitimizing adversaries: Judges or lawmakers opposing his policies become enemies of freedom
- Energizing older voters: Especially those over 45, who remember the threat of the Soviet Union
It’s no coincidence that Trump and Miller link the word “communist” with phrases like “woke,” “radical,” and “destroying America.” In the age of social media, emotionally charged labels can spread quickly and shape public discourse.
“Calling people who advocate for slightly more government involvement ‘communists’ is typical misleading political rhetoric,” Robertson said. “It works because it makes people angry — and anger is addictive.”
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