In a stunning and unprecedented development, the United States has been officially added to an international human rights watchlist, marking a new low for the country under Donald Trump’s administration. The inclusion is a direct result of the authoritarian policies championed by Trump and his MAGA movement, raising concerns over the future of democracy in America.
The global civil society organization CIVICUS, which maintains the watchlist, cited alarming trends under Trump’s leadership, including “restrictive executive orders, unjustifiable institutional cutbacks, and intimidation tactics through threatening pronouncements by senior officials.” These measures, according to CIVICUS interim co-Secretary General Mandeep Tiwana, are “creating an atmosphere to chill democratic dissent, a cherished American ideal.”
Tiwana further warned that “the Trump administration seems hellbent on dismantling the system of checks and balances which are the pillars of a democratic society.”
The watchlist is designed to highlight nations where civic freedoms are under severe threat, based on research, partner assessments, and input from activists on the ground. Other nations recently added include Congo, Italy, Pakistan, and Serbia—making the United States’ inclusion particularly shocking given its historical position as a global leader in democratic values.
CIVICUS cited several specific reasons for the U.S.’s addition to the list:
- Gross abuses of executive power, which pose serious risks to freedoms of peaceful assembly, expression, and association.
- Mass firings of federal workers, which have crippled crucial regulatory institutions and undermined governmental oversight.
- The dismantling of foreign aid programs, putting vulnerable populations at risk worldwide.
- Attacks on the free press, including repeated attempts to delegitimize independent journalism.
- Efforts to suppress free speech, particularly in crackdowns on pro-Palestinian protests.
“Americans across the political spectrum are appalled by the undemocratic actions of the current administration,” Tiwana stated, calling for urgent reforms to restore the country’s standing as a democracy that upholds civil liberties.
The addition of the United States to this list is a humiliating moment for a nation long regarded as a beacon of freedom. As CIVICUS urged immediate action to end the democratic backsliding and hold those responsible accountable, the broader question remains—how much damage has already been done, and can America ever fully recover its reputation?
The stain of authoritarianism does not easily wash away, and Trump’s legacy may leave a lasting scar on the country’s democratic institutions.
