USA05 February, 20261 min read
Human Rights Watch Warns Trump Is Transforming USA Into Authoritarian State
HRW asserts the United States is moving toward authoritarianism under Trump. Global democracy is in a democratic recession, with rights eroding worldwide.
HRW's Stark Warning
Human Rights Watch warned that by May 2026 Trump was transforming the United States into an authoritarian state. The administration had undermined trust in elections, weakened accountability, attacked the judiciary, and suppressed free speech. HRW called on governments that still value human rights to form a strategic alliance.
ICE Abuses and Racial Justice Rollback
ICE had carried out hundreds of unnecessarily violent and brutal raids. The death toll in ICE custody rose to 36 since Trump’s return. Trump-led America had started erasing the past even as it tore down present protections.
Global Domino Effect
HRW placed the United States at the center of a global domino effect of authoritarian advances. The US had shown support for Israeli war crimes and deepened American complicity. Trump's unilateral actions reverberated worldwide, weakening institutions and emboldening autocrats.
Enforced Disappearances and International Isolation
HRW repeated its allegation that the US committed enforced disappearances. The men sent to El Salvador later alleged they were tortured. Democracy indicators have fallen to levels unseen since 1985.