Survey: Political Scholars Warn U.S. Heading Toward Authoritarianism

Multiple surveys of over 500 political scientists reveal a strong consensus that the United States is rapidly shifting away from liberal democracy toward some form of authoritarianism, particularly under President Trump's leadership. According to the Bright Line Watch survey, experts rated American democracy at 67 after Trump's election, but this dropped sharply to 55 several weeks into his second term, marking the lowest score since 2017. Scholars attribute this decline to actions such as expanding executive power, interfering with the press, punishing political opponents, and weakening legislative and judicial checks on executive authority. While not all political scientists agree, many experts warn that the U.S. is now exhibiting traits of 'competitive authoritarianism,' a system where democratic institutions exist but are undermined in practice. Some, like Harvard's Steven Levitsky, argue that the situation is reversible but caution that the country is no longer a full liberal democracy. The experts predict a continued decline in democratic performance if current trends persist.