Republicans Employ Misleading Tactics by Labeling Democrats as ‘Communists’

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In the wake of his recent arraignment on federal charges, Donald Trump launched an attack on President Joe Biden and Democrats using language that harked back to another era. He claimed to be persecuted by “Marxists” and “communists.”

While Trump has frequently employed these labels throughout his political career, they have now become a pervasive attack line adopted by other Republicans as well. However, this rhetoric is not only inaccurate but also potentially dangerous, as it seeks to demonize an entire political party using a description historically associated with America’s adversaries.

Experts who specialize in political messaging assert that associating Democrats with Marxism further deepens the country’s polarization and, most importantly, is factually incorrect. Biden has consistently supported capitalism, and Democratic lawmakers are not advocating for a transformation of the American democratic system into a communist regime.

Despite this reality, Trump and other Republicans have persistently used exaggerated references to these political ideologies to stoke fears about Democrats and the perceived threats they pose.

Shortly after pleading not guilty in federal court, Trump addressed a gathering of his supporters at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, claiming that Biden, along with his allies, attempted to undermine American democracy by forming a coalition of “thugs, misfits, and Marxists.”

Days later, during a telephone rally with Iowa voters, he reiterated the same theme. Trump has also employed these labels in numerous campaign emails and social media posts, warning of an imminent transformation of America into a “third world Marxist regime” or a “tyrannical Marxist nation” under Biden’s leadership.

Other Republicans have joined in with similar messaging. Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene took to Twitter to criticize what she called the “CORRUPT AND WEAPONIZED COMMUNISTS DEMOCRAT CONTROLLED DOJ.” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Trump’s closest rival for the GOP presidential nomination, has expressed concerns about the influence of “woke” ideology, which he equates to “cultural Marxism.”

Historically, U.S. politicians have frequently labeled their opponents as Marxists or communists without substantiated evidence, reminiscent of the infamous actions of the late Senator Joseph McCarthy, who led efforts to blacklist alleged communists in the 1950s.

According to Tanner Mirrlees, an associate professor at Ontario Tech University in Canada who specializes in researching political discourse surrounding “cultural Marxism,” red-baiting in American political communication is as prevalent as apple pie. However, this tactic is carefully designed to appeal to voters’ emotions rather than reason and empirical evidence, as stated by Steve Israel, a former U.S. congressman from New York who studied political messaging as the chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.

For some Hispanic Trump supporters outside the federal courthouse in Miami, where the former president was arraigned, the charges against Trump brought back memories of political persecutions from which their family members had fled. This sentiment was particularly strong among those who had experienced such oppression in Latin American countries. However, it is crucial to note that unlike many parts of Latin America, the United States has a tradition of upholding the rule of law and maintaining constitutional separation of powers. In contrast to regions where corruption is rampant and judiciary independence is lacking, the U.S. system operates differently.

The Republican Party has gained support from segments of the population with strong anti-communist sentiments, such as those who emigrated from Southeast Asia following the Vietnam War. However, opposing an actual regime that suppresses individual freedom and rejects a free market economy is distinct from how many Republicans currently employ these terms. They falsely claim that Marxists dominate American society’s major institutions.

As for the term “cultural Marxism,” which mainstream Republicans have adopted, experts point out its darker history. Antisemitic and white supremacist groups historically propagated the idea that “cultural Marxism” posed a threat. While Republicans may find this terminology popular among their base, it is vital to acknowledge its problematic origins.

James Gardner, a law professor at the University at Buffalo specializing in election law, suggests that for most voters who hear candidates labeling someone as communist or Marxist, the precise meaning of those terms matters less than the negative associations attached to them. Candidates use these tactics to associate their opponents with something widely considered negative, regardless of the accuracy of the claim.

However, although denouncing communists and Marxists may resonate with the Republican base, it may not prove to be an effective strategy in the upcoming general election, according to Israel. Moderate and independent voters who do not see compelling evidence linking Democrats to these ideologies are less likely to be swayed. Israel argues that Republicans are exaggerating their claims and, in doing so, may be overplaying their hand.

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This report includes contributions from Joshua Goodman of Big Big News in Miami.

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Big Big News is supported by several private foundations aiming to enhance its coverage of elections and democracy. Learn more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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More about Republican Misinformation

• The Accusation of Marxism Against Democrats
• Historical Context of Labeling Political Opponents as Marxists
• Debunking the Claim that Democrats Are Pushing for Communism
• Analysis of Republican Messaging Tactics
• Effectiveness of Republican Tactics on Voters