What Trump’s communism claims miss about Democrats and democratic socialists
PolitiFact – Rulings and Stories — 2026-07-09 16:49:00 — www.politifact.com
Trump Repeats False Claims, Labels Democrats as “Communists” in July Fourth Speech
Marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, President Donald Trump used his July Fourth address on the National Mall to attack communism and disparage Democrats, reviving rhetoric reminiscent of the Cold War era.
Trump’s Claims and Rhetoric
During his late-night speech, Trump declared, “Communism is a loser and it always will be,” and warned, “Our warriors did not fight communism on battlefields across the world only to have that menace rear its ugly head right back here in America. We’re not gonna let it happen.” In the days leading up to the event, he escalated his attacks, stating at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference, “The Democratic Party is becoming a communist party. These are not social Dumocrats, these are hardcore, godless communists. They’re godless communists.”
Fact-Checking Trump’s Accusations
Trump’s repeated assertion that Democrats are communists is not supported by the facts. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which has endorsed a small number of congressional candidates, is an organization—not a political party—and represents only a fraction of the Democratic Party. Even if all DSA-endorsed candidates win, they would constitute a tiny minority in Congress.
The excerpt notes that this is not a new line of attack for Trump and Republicans, who have previously falsely labeled prominent Democrats, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, as communists. The fact-check further clarifies that while the DSA includes some members who identify as communists, the organization itself is distinct from the Communist Party, and its platform is not equivalent to a communist agenda.
The Reality of Democratic Socialism and Communism
Experts cited in the excerpt explain that democratic socialism, as practiced by most U.S. politicians who use the label, refers to support for robust social programs similar to those in many European countries—not the abolition of capitalism or private property. The DSA platform, while more radical than the mainstream Democratic platform, does not call for a communist takeover or the end of capitalism.
Additionally, the Communist Party USA has stated there are “zero” communists in Congress and dismissed Trump’s claims as “standard GOP talking points.”
Conclusion
Trump’s characterization of Democrats as “hardcore, godless communists” is a distortion that echoes the fearmongering tactics of the 1950s Red Scare. Fact-checking reveals that his claims are not grounded in reality: the Democratic Party remains a broad coalition, and the influence of communism within it is minimal. Trump’s rhetoric serves to stoke fear rather than inform, continuing a pattern of false and exaggerated statements about his political opponents.
Source: https://www.politifact.com/article/2026/jul/09/Trump-communist-democratic-socialist-Chevalier/