One Year & One Day into Trump 2.0
Today marks one year and one day since Donald Trump began his second term. Donald Trump has made good on a single campaign promise he made to the American people – he said he’d be a “Dictator on Day One” and he’s done just that throughout his first year in office. Our democracy, country, and community have suffered as a result, but we’re standing up, speaking out, and fighting back at the ballot box to ensure Democrats who share our values win in 2026 and defend our democracy.
Trump’s Attacks on Democracy:
The number one priority for Jewish American voters continues to be the future of democracy. In the past year, our democracy has been under persistent attack by the Trump White House, including a complete disregard for the separation of powers and the authority of Congress. Republicans have acquiesced and capitulated to every Trump demand, demonstrating that we must elect Democrats to defend democracy.
Donald Trump has weaponized the Department of Justice as a tool of political retribution, trampled on the rule of law, and persistently attacked democratic norms and institutions. He’s ignored laws that he signed – including on the release of the Epstein files – and Supreme Court rulings. He has deployed a militarized ICE to terrorize our cities, threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, threatened to invade Greenland, and “joked” about canceling the midterm elections.
As Jewish Americans, we understand the danger authoritarianism poses to vulnerable communities, including our own. We know that the future of democracy and our security and well-being are inextricably linked. We also know that we are strongest when we take action, and that’s exactly what we’re doing at JDCA.
That is why millions of Americans – including Jewish Democrats across the country – are standing up to this administration. We are organizing, making our voices heard, defending democracy, and preparing to ensure Democrats take back control of Congress to provide oversight of the White House, guardrails for our democracy, and stop Trump’s abuse of power.
Trump and Antisemitism:
One year into Trump 2.0, dangerous right-wing extremism and antisemitism have been normalized, embraced, and even echoed by this White House.
On his first day in office, Trump pardoned, commuted the sentences of, and released from jail nearly 1,600 right-wing extremists and January 6 insurrectionists, including hundreds who assaulted law enforcement officers. In his first few months in office, Trump exploited rising antisemitism to defund universities and deport foreign students without due process, while cutting funding for the Department of Education’s office that investigates antisemitism on campus.
In the first few weeks of 2026, the Trump administration launched a social media campaign invoking Nazi slogans and white supremacist dog whistles and memes, including as a part of its ICE recruitment efforts. The president has hired those known to peddle antisemitic conspiracy theories and rhetoric, including at least one individual who said he has a “Nazi streak.” Under Trump, the Coast Guard has equivocated on whether the swastika is a hate symbol. You can find a myriad of examples of antisemitism or actions that have put Jewish Americans at risk here.
Take action today to combat antisemitism.
Here’s Why We’re Hopeful:
One year into Donald Trump’s second term, we are hopeful about prospects for political change in the midterm elections – and that hope is growing. Throughout Trump’s first year in office, JDCA has been a source of community and shared purpose, turning our despair into action and making a difference.
Together, we’ve sent over 120,000 letters and petitions to Congress since Trump took office. We made nearly 100,000 calls for statewide elections, 100% of our endorsed candidates won their elections in 2025, and we are already getting to work to help Democrats take back control of Congress in 2026.
Our work in 2026 is just getting started. With your support and action today, we can continue to fight back and win against Trump’s authoritarian agenda and elect Democrats who share our values in November.
Please join JDCA today as a 2026 member so we can continue this fight.
Thank you for being a part of our movement and for working with us to bring about change consistent with our values.
In solidarity,
Jacob Spiegel
Communications Director, Jewish Democratic Council of America