Working Families Party National Director Maurice Mitchell points out that the grassroots must actively resist Trump’s attack on the working class.
Working Families Party National Director
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Summary
Maurice Mitchell, National Director of the Working Families Party, discusses the urgent need for grassroots organizing in response to the authoritarian policies of the Trump/Musk administration. He highlights the billionaire-led assault on working-class Americans, the GOP’s attacks on social programs, and Trump’s crackdown on dissent, particularly at universities. Mitchell argues that many Trump voters are already experiencing buyer’s remorse as economic hardship deepens and stresses that building a broad, multiracial working-class movement is the only way to resist this far-right power grab.
Key Takeaways:
- Billionaire Takeover: Trump and Musk are orchestrating a massive wealth transfer from the working class to the ultra-rich, slashing essential programs to fund tax breaks for billionaires.
- Authoritarian Crackdown: Trump’s threats to defund universities over “illegal protests” are a direct attack on free speech and democracy.
- Trump’s Betrayal of Workers: Many working-class Trump voters are realizing they were conned as job cuts, price hikes, and benefit losses mount.
- Grassroots Power: Real change will come from mass movements, not career politicians—people must organize, mobilize, and run for office.
- Path Forward: Progressives must welcome disaffected Trump voters, unite working people across race and class, and fight for a government that serves the many, not the few.
The Trump/Musk administration is proving that unchecked corporate power and right-wing authoritarianism go hand in hand. But history shows that when people organize, they win. The Working Families Party and other progressive forces are building a movement that can take back power from the billionaire class and create a government that truly serves the people. The time to fight is now—through activism, electoral engagement, and direct action, the working class can reclaim its future.
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The rise of Donald Trump and his alliance with billionaire oligarchs like Elon Musk has triggered an existential crisis for American democracy. The Working Families Party (WFP), under the leadership of National Director Maurice Mitchell, is responding with a strategic, people-powered resistance to combat the right-wing authoritarian takeover of the United States government. In a recent conversation, Mitchell outlined the dire stakes of the moment, the increasing urgency for grassroots mobilization, and the necessity of building a multiracial, working-class coalition to stop the consolidation of corporate power under Trump and Musk.
The Trump/Musk Nexus: A Government of Billionaires, By Billionaires, and For Billionaires
Since Trump’s controversial return to power, his administration has prioritized corporate giveaways, deregulation, and authoritarian crackdowns on dissent. Rather than addressing the core economic struggles of working-class Americans—many of whom voted for him under the false pretense that he would “drain the swamp”—Trump has instead aligned with billionaires like Elon Musk to further enrich the ultra-wealthy at the expense of everyday people.
Mitchell highlights how this billionaire-led administration is engaging in a systematic “smash and grab” robbery of the American public. Programs that serve millions—including Medicaid, SNAP, and Head Start—are being gutted to finance historic tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Meanwhile, Trump’s threats against free speech and academic institutions signal a broader authoritarian strategy: suppress opposition, stifle dissent, and dismantle democratic safeguards to maintain control.
This alliance between Trump and Musk is particularly troubling. Musk, who has spent years amassing control over key areas of technology, finance, and social media, is now leveraging his influence to serve as an enforcer of Trump’s far-right agenda. By consolidating control over major communication networks and AI infrastructure, Musk is creating an unprecedented fusion of state and corporate power—a scenario that should alarm anyone who values democracy.
The Grassroots Resistance: Hope in the People, Not in Politicians
Despite these authoritarian maneuvers, Mitchell remains hopeful—not because of establishment politicians, but because of grassroots movements rising up to challenge the Trump/Musk agenda. He rightly points out that history has shown that politicians rarely lead on issues of justice and progress unless mass movements force them to act. The civil rights movement, the labor movement, and more recently, the climate justice and racial justice movements have all demonstrated that real power lies in organizing.
This moment is no different. Even as Trump and Musk attempt to consolidate control, working-class people across the country are awakening to the realities of their economic exploitation. Many Trump voters—particularly those in rural areas—are realizing that they have been conned. Instead of receiving the economic relief they were promised, they are now watching their wages stagnate, their social services disappear, and their freedoms erode. The WFP sees this as an opportunity to build a broad-based coalition that can unite people across race, class, and geography in the fight for economic justice.
The Working-Class Betrayal: Organizing in Trump’s America
One of the most important takeaways from Mitchell’s remarks is the acknowledgment that many people who voted for Trump did so not out of ideological loyalty, but out of desperation. They were sold a lie—that Trump was the anti-establishment candidate who would stand up for them against corporate elites. Instead, they are now witnessing a billionaire-controlled government strip them of their healthcare, their food assistance, and their basic rights.
This realization is already beginning to shift political allegiances. Trump’s approval ratings have plummeted since taking office, and many of his voters are experiencing buyer’s remorse. Inflation is rising, tariffs are increasing the cost of goods, and key social programs are being gutted—directly harming the working-class communities that make up a significant portion of Trump’s base.
The dialogue with the host argues that the WFP and other progressive organizations must be ready to engage with these disaffected voters—not with condescension, but with empathy and strategy. Rather than dismissing them as irredeemable, organizers must create spaces where people can admit they were misled and be welcomed into a movement that actually represents their interests.
The Authoritarian Playbook: Trump’s Crackdown on Dissent
The authoritarian nature of Trump’s administration is becoming more evident by the day. His recent threats to defund universities that allow “illegal protests”—a term deliberately left vague—are a classic tactic of despots who seek to criminalize dissent. As Mitchell points out, universities have historically been sites of intellectual freedom and activism, making them a natural target for an administration that seeks to suppress free thought.
This crackdown on protest is not just an attack on students and faculty—it is an attack on democracy itself. By threatening to arrest protesters and deport foreign students who participate in demonstrations, Trump is attempting to silence opposition through fear and coercion. These actions mirror those of authoritarian regimes throughout history, where dissent is criminalized, and loyalty to the state is mandated.
However, as Mitchell notes, history has also shown that repression often backfires. The more Trump attempts to crush opposition, the more he galvanizes resistance. Students, faculty, and everyday Americans are waking up to the reality of living under an authoritarian regime, and they are increasingly willing to put their bodies on the line to defend their rights.
Building the Movement: What Comes Next?
The WFP’s strategy for resisting the Trump/Musk administration revolves around three core principles:
- Mass Mobilization: Building an inclusive, working-class-led movement that can push back against the billionaire takeover of government. This includes organizing protests, direct actions, and electoral campaigns that challenge corporate power.
- Electoral Strategy: Encouraging working-class people—not just career politicians—to run for office at all levels of government. The WFP believes that real change happens when ordinary people take power into their own hands, rather than relying on the same political elites who have failed them for decades.
- Engaging Disaffected Trump Voters: Recognizing that many people who supported Trump are not ideological extremists but disillusioned Americans looking for an alternative. The progressive movement must offer them a real path forward—one rooted in economic justice, racial equity, and democratic participation.
Mitchell makes a compelling case that the battle ahead is not just about defeating Trump and Musk—it is about fundamentally transforming American politics. The stakes could not be higher. If the left fails to organize effectively, the United States will continue to slide further into oligarchy and authoritarianism. But if the people rise to the challenge, this moment of crisis could become a turning point in the fight for a truly just and democratic society.
Conclusion: The Time to Act is Now
The Trump/Musk administration represents the most dangerous consolidation of corporate and political power in modern American history. However, as Maurice Mitchell and the Working Families Party have made clear, there is still time to fight back. The power to resist does not lie in Washington, D.C.—it lies in the hands of ordinary people willing to stand up and demand change.
For those who believe in democracy, the message is clear: organize, mobilize, and take action. Whether it’s through grassroots activism, electoral campaigns, or direct action, every effort matters in the fight against authoritarianism. The battle is not just about defeating Trump and Musk—it’s about building a future where the government works for the many, not the few.