Bill Kristol on Trump’s Authoritarian Drift and the Urgent Fight to Preserve American Democracy
JUDJ-Prepared Summary from July 30, 2025 | Speaking Out and Speaking Up: Bill Kristol on the State of the Nation. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the speaker.
In a recent America at a Crossroads discussion, political commentator and The Bulwark editor-at-large Bill Kristol joined longtime journalist Patt Morrison to offer a sobering assessment of the state of American democracy under Donald Trump’s second administration. With decades of experience in Washington, including in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, Kristol spoke candidly about the institutional damage underway, the rise of federal overreach, and why now is the moment for civic action and principled resistance.
Authoritarian Overreach and the Erosion of Institutions
Kristol opened with a stark warning: the Trump administration has become more effective and aggressive in weaponizing the federal government. Unlike his first term, which was often hampered by inexperience, Trump’s second administration has moved swiftly to purge civil servants, sideline institutional norms, and concentrate power in the executive branch. “This is not the government we had,” Kristol said, pointing to the hollowing out of the Justice Department and Homeland Security.
He emphasized that if this trajectory continues, the next administration—whether Democratic or Republican—will inherit a broken government. “This is not like Clinton after Bush or Obama after Bush,” Kristol warned. “We’re talking about a fundamental transformation of the federal system, and not for the better.”
Mass Deportations: Cruelty as Policy
Kristol was especially forceful in condemning the Trump administration’s mass deportation program, describing it as morally repugnant and economically self-defeating. He drew attention to masked ICE officers sweeping up longtime residents, sometimes even U.S. citizens, in cities like Los Angeles and San Diego. “This isn’t immigration enforcement. It’s a campaign of fear,” he said.
Kristol rejected the administration’s framing of the policy as necessary border control, noting that many of the people being targeted have lived in the U.S. for decades, have families, and contribute meaningfully to the economy. “The point isn’t public safety or jobs,” he said. “It’s about making the country whiter.”
Bullying America’s Institutions
From the National Institutes of Health to major universities, Kristol described a pattern of bullying and coercion. Institutions that don’t fall in line face funding cuts, public shaming, or intrusive investigations. Recent settlements with Columbia and Brown universities over DEI and antisemitism issues were cited as examples of this strategy. “These are ransom payments,” Kristol argued. “Once you cave, they come back for more.”
Even more troubling, Kristol said, is the complicity of many sectors—businesses, academia, and even former Republican officials—who have stayed silent or rationalized their inaction. “If Columbia can’t stand up, who will?” he asked.
The Threat to Democratic Norms and Elections
Kristol also raised alarms about election manipulation, including attempts to redraw congressional districts in red states like Texas outside the standard 10-year cycle. “This isn’t about representing voters. It’s about rigging the system,” he said. Coupled with vague but ominous hints that Trump may seek a third term, Kristol painted a picture of a political movement increasingly indifferent to the rule of law.
He stressed that democratic erosion is happening in plain sight—and that the courts, while sometimes helpful, can’t shoulder the burden alone. “We can’t count on the Supreme Court to call balls and strikes when the rules themselves are being rewritten,” he said.
A Call to Action
Despite the grim analysis, Kristol ended on a hopeful note. “This is not the time to sit back,” he said. “Volunteer. Protest. Call your members of Congress. We still have power—and we have to use it.”
Kristol urged viewers to find their role in this moment, whether through civic engagement, supporting democratic institutions, or simply showing up. “We’ve gotten through hard times before,” he said. “But it’s going to take work, and it’s going to take all of us.”
About America at a Crossroads
Since April 2020, America at a Crossroads has produced weekly virtual programs on topics related to the preservation of our democracy, voting rights, freedom of the press, and a wide array of civil rights, including abortion rights, free speech, and free press. America at a Crossroads is a project of Jews United for Democracy & Justice.