Donald Trump is once again desperately trying to convince America that Black and Brown voters are abandoning Democrats because they’re terrified of “socialism”—and”, naturally, he has decided Abraham Lincoln is part of the argument.
In a Sunday post, Trump claimed that “Black and Brown” Americans are increasingly turning toward Republicans because Democrats are supposedly embracing socialism and communism.
Here’s his post from Truth Social:
Black and Brown Voters don’t want Communism or Socialism — Not surprisingly, they are flocking to the Republican Party! They remember that Abraham Lincoln was a Republican! President DONALD J. TRUMP
It’s the latest installment in Trump’s increasingly frantic campaign against the word “socialism,” which has become his favorite boogeyman ever since a handful of Democratic candidates with socialist credentials began winning high-profile primaries.
Trump has repeatedly attacked New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other progressive candidates, warning that “communists” are supposedly taking over the Democratic Party. He has even described communism as a “cancer” and declared that it must be dealt with immediately.
But there’s something almost comical about Trump suddenly presenting himself as the great defender of working-class Black and Brown Americans while simultaneously trying to sell them on a Republican Party whose economic policies have repeatedly prioritized the wealthy and powerful.
And invoking Abraham Lincoln to make the case is particularly rich.
Lincoln was a Republican, yes. But the Republican Party of Lincoln bears almost no resemblance to the modern MAGA movement Trump now controls.
The same Trump who spent years attacking DEI, immigrants and civil rights protections now wants Americans to believe he is the natural political home for communities that have historically been targeted by Republican policies.
Meanwhile, Trump’s attacks come as progressive candidates like Mamdani continue to gain attention by focusing their campaigns on issues that actually affect people’s daily lives: housing costs, wages, healthcare, transportation, childcare and economic inequality.
Trump would obviously prefer that voters argue about labels.
“Socialism.”
“Communism.”
“MAGA.”
“Republican.”
“Democrat.”
Anything to avoid a conversation about whether ordinary Americans can afford to live.
His latest post also follows an awkward moment for the Democratic Socialists of America, after DSA co-chair Megan Romer struggled to provide a clear answer during an interview about the group’s proposals for taxing wealthy Americans.
Trump and his allies immediately seized on the exchange as evidence that their warnings about socialism are justified.
But that is the larger MAGA strategy: find the most extreme example possible, hold it up as representative of every Democrat in America, and then pretend the choice facing voters is between Donald Trump and communism.
It isn’t.
The real question is whether Americans believe government should work for ordinary people or primarily for those who already have enormous wealth and political influence.
Trump can keep yelling “socialism” at the top of his lungs.
He can invoke Lincoln.
He can warn about “communists” coming for America.
But eventually voters still have to open their grocery bills, pay their rent, fill their gas tanks, afford healthcare and figure out how they’re going to make it through the month.
And no amount of MAGA fearmongering changes that reality.
About the Author
