Trump's New Tactics Against Democrats Struggling to Gain Traction

WHO:

USA Today - House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, stated, “Now the barbarians are inside the gate,” referring to the upcoming election as "for all the marbles."

USA Today - Janeese Lewis-George won the Democratic primary for Washington, DC, mayor.

Alternet - President Trump has mentioned communism more than 80 times in the past two weeks.

USA Today - House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, referred to the current election as "for all the marbles."

USA Today - Susan Kang, an associate professor of political science at City University of New York's John Jay College of Criminal Justice, is a member of the New York City Democratic Socialists of America.

USA Today - Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, is considered the godfather of modern American democratic socialism.

USA Today - Zohran Mamdani won New York City's mayoral election in 2025.

WHAT:

Alternet - Trump has secured a 10% stake in USA Rare Earth as part of a $1.6 billion debt-and-equity investment package to develop a domestic mine and magnet facility.

Alternet - Trump’s administration has acquired an 8% stake in the nuclear power company Westinghouse.

Alternet - Trump’s Department of Defense has solidified Washington’s position as the largest shareholder of MP Materials, the only operational rare-earth mine in the United States, through a $400 million investment.

USA Today - Trump’s Freedom Fuel gas stations are selling gas at $3.47 per gallon in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, amid rising energy costs due to a war in the Middle East.

USA Today - Trump’s administration has negotiated a governance stake known as a ‘golden share’ in U.S. Steel Corporation, granting substantial control over its operations.

Alternet - Trump’s administration has secured a 15% equity stake in MP Materials through a $400 million investment.

Alternet - Trump’s Department of Defense secured a 15% equity stake in MP Materials by purchasing $400 million in preferred stock.

Alternet - Trump’s Commerce Department has acquired a 10% stake in USA Rare Earth as part of a $1.6 billion debt-and-equity investment package.

Alternet - A July 4 survey by the Cato Institute found that 38% of Americans under 30 have a favorable view of communism.

USA Today - Trump's Freedom Fuel gas stations are selling gas at $3.47 per gallon in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

USA Today - Trump has negotiated a $8.9 billion deal to acquire a 10% stake in Intel Corp.

Alternet - Trump’s administration has secured a 15% equity stake in MP Materials, the largest operational rare-earth mine in the United States, through a $400 million investment.

Alternet - The Trump administration has acquired a 10% equity stake in Lithium Americas Corp. and a governance stake in U.S. Steel Corporation, granting substantial control over its operations.

Alternet - Trump warned at the NATO conference in Ankara, Turkey, that promises of free housing end in "squalor" and "disaster."

USA Today - Trump devoted part of his July 4 address on the 250th anniversary of American independence to attack communism.

USA Today - In 2025, Katie Wilson was elected Seattle mayor.

USA Today - In late June, Melat Kiros unseated Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colorado, who had held her Denver seat for nearly three decades.

USA Today - Chris Rabb won an open congressional seat in Philadelphia.

Alternet - Trump called communism a "mortal threat to American liberty" and "the greatest threat to our country."

USA Today - Trump described progressive Democrats as "hardcore, godless communists" during a speech at the June 26 conservative Faith & Freedom Coalition conference.

USA Today - A July 4 survey by Morning Consult and the Cato Institute found that 53% of Gen Z respondents had a favorable view of socialism.

USA Today - The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has grown from 5,000 members in 2017 to over 100,000 in 2026.

USA Today - In June, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier won congressional primaries in New York City, and Melat Kiros won in Denver.

WHERE:

Alternet - Trump made his speech on the eve of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

USA Today - Trump's Freedom Fuel gas stations are located in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

USA Today - Mamdani's proposals include fast and free buses and public grocery stores in New York City.

WHEN:

USA Today - Trump made his remarks at the June 26 conservative Faith & Freedom Coalition conference.

USA Today - The DSA's membership growth is reported as of 2026.

USA Today - The congressional primaries mentioned occurred in June.

WHY:

Alternet - Michael Steele, former RNC Chair, argues that Trump’s rhetoric about communism will not resonate in the current political climate, as modern socialists are not akin to Cold War-era communists.

Alternet - Michael Steele, former RNC Chair, argued that Trump’s rhetoric about communism will not resonate in the current political climate, as modern socialists are not akin to Cold War-era communists.

Alternet - Michael Steele, former RNC Chair, argues that Trump's rhetoric about communism will not resonate in the current political climate, as modern socialists are not akin to Cold War-era communists.

USA Today - House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, stated that his caucus has a variety of perspectives, from centrists to progressives, and emphasized the need to stop "MAGA extremism."

Alternet - The Washington Post editorial board suggests that Trump and the Republican Party will need more than name-calling to avoid a mid-term disaster.

USA Today - Republicans are attempting to castigate their opponents as extremists following recent wins by democratic socialists in congressional primaries.

HOW:

Alternet - Trump is pushing partial federal ownership of contractors that rely heavily on federal budgets, such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing, to ensure alignment with his policies.

Alternet - Trump’s administration is strategically acquiring ownership stakes in various sectors to generate "public revenue" and exert government control over corporate decision-making.

USA Today - Trump has increased his attacks on Democrats by labeling them as communists, echoing Cold War-era messaging.

USA Today - Democratic socialists advocate for an economy run for the public’s benefit through democratic decision-making and expanding public services.

(UPDATED July 12, 2026 04:12 UTC)

Trump has secured a 10% stake in USA Rare Earth as part of a $1.6 billion investment package aimed at developing a domestic mine and magnet facility, while also acquiring an 8% stake in the nuclear power company Westinghouse. Additionally, his Department of Defense has made a significant move by solidifying Washington’s position as the largest shareholder of MP Materials through a $400 million investment, and Trump’s administration has negotiated a governance stake in U.S. Steel Corporation, granting substantial control over its operations. Meanwhile, Trump’s Freedom Fuel gas stations are currently selling gas at $3.47 per gallon in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, amid rising energy costs linked to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

(UPDATED July 12, 2026 02:52 UTC)

House Speaker Mike Johnson has made headlines by declaring that "the barbarians are inside the gate," emphasizing the high stakes of the upcoming election. In other political news, Janeese Lewis-George has emerged victorious in the Democratic primary for mayor of Washington, DC. Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has made significant financial moves, securing a 15% equity stake in MP Materials through a $400 million investment, and acquiring a 10% stake in USA Rare Earth as part of a $1.6 billion package.

(UPDATED July 11, 2026 23:12 UTC)

A recent survey by the Cato Institute revealed that 38% of Americans under 30 have a favorable view of communism, highlighting shifting attitudes among younger generations. In business news, Trump has negotiated an impressive $8.9 billion deal to acquire a 10% stake in Intel Corp, while also securing a 15% equity stake in MP Materials, the largest operational rare-earth mine in the U.S., through a $400 million investment. Additionally, Trump's Freedom Fuel gas stations are currently selling gas at $3.47 per gallon in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

(UPDATED July 11, 2026 15:16 UTC)

At the NATO conference in Ankara, Turkey, Trump warned that promises of free housing often lead to "squalor" and "disaster." In his July 4 address, he also took the opportunity to attack communism, highlighting his administration's strategy of acquiring ownership stakes in various sectors to generate public revenue and influence corporate decision-making. Meanwhile, in recent political shifts, Katie Wilson was elected as Seattle's mayor in 2025, Melat Kiros unseated a long-standing Democratic representative in Colorado, and Chris Rabb won an open congressional seat in Philadelphia.

(UPDATED July 11, 2026 14:22 UTC)

President Trump has ramped up his rhetoric against Democrats, calling communism a "mortal threat to American liberty" and labeling progressive Democrats as "hardcore, godless communists" during a recent speech. Meanwhile, the Democratic Socialists of America has seen significant growth, expanding from 5,000 members in 2017 to over 100,000 in 2026, reflecting a shift in attitudes, especially among younger voters, with a recent survey showing that 53% of Gen Z respondents view socialism favorably. In New York City, Zohran Mamdani, who won the mayoral election in 2025, is pushing for progressive proposals like fast and free buses and public grocery stores, further highlighting the rising influence of democratic socialism in American politics.