[AnimalMuppet]

The thing is that, even if Trump never becomes a full-out authoritarian, sooner or later someone will follow that path and do so (unless there are institutional reforms with teeth after Trump is gone). I don't trust the US to remain a real democracy long-term, even after Trump is gone.

[cudgy]

US was never a real democracy; it is a representative republic consisting of 2 primary parties both coopted by billionares.