V-Dem Report Reclassifies US as Electoral Democracy Under Trump

The V-Dem Institute's 2026 Democracy Report reclassified the United States as an electoral democracy rather than a liberal democracy, stating American democratic standards have regressed to 1965 levels. This decline is attributed to executive branch overreach by Donald Trump, including the implementation of Project 2025 to consolidate power and the use of the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, to execute deep federal budget cuts.

Trump is accused of usurping Congressional power to initiate unsanctioned military conflicts. These actions include a war in Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and operations in Venezuela that resulted in the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro on drug charges. Reports indicate these campaigns caused thousands of casualties, including children, leading to accusations of war crimes against Trump and official Pete Hegseth.

Domestically, the administration faces criticism for widespread voter suppression in Texas and the mass deportation of immigrants. Trump has also engaged in controversial public communications, including depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes and posting an image of himself as Jesus Christ, which he later claimed was a portrayal of a doctor. These developments coincide with a national debt increase to $39 trillion and strained relations with allies such as Canada.