From left, former U.S. Presidents Obama, Biden, and Clinton. Yonhap News

Representative of the National Union for Free Unification, Doctor of Public Administration, President of the Global Aerospace Industry AssociationAs a leading nation in the world, the United States is a superpower wielding immense influence. For many countries to follow suit, leading to global stability and peace, it is essential for the U.S. to maintain its constitutional values of liberal democracy and its moral foundation as a model for the world.

In this regard, if America's moral foundation, economy, and military power collapse, China, standing at the opposite pole of the U.S., will seize dominance and rule the world with communist ideology. Nations in the free camp believe it is appropriate for the U.S. to become strong and prosperous again, establish a morally upright society, and lead all countries worldwide.

Unfortunately, most of our media reported that Kamala Harris would win the presidential election, being anti-Trump and anti-Republican. However, the opposite result occurred, and I have seen no explanation for this. It seems "what if" has become commonplace. We must soberly consider whether defying the Trump administration, which is currently leading the world order, would be beneficial to our national interests.

The performance of the eras when Democratic presidents Clinton, Obama, and Biden were in power over the past 20 years is considered not just meager but actively undermining America's foundation. The Democratic Party does not seem to be reflecting on its many mistakes and failures. If America collapses domestically, the world will falter. We must learn from America's mistakes as a cautionary tale.

An Overview of the U.S. Democratic Party's Identity

The Democratic Party, one of America's two major parties, was founded in 1828 with Andrew Jackson's support base. Historically, it has emphasized worker protection, social equality, and welfare expansion through government intervention. However, the modern Democratic Party's increasingly strong leanings toward liberalism and democratic socialism present prominent conflicts with traditional democratic principles (e.g., rule of law, border security, economic stability). This has operated in ways that weaken America's national interests (national security, economic prosperity), its strength and prosperity (energy independence, fiscal soundness), its upright society (family-centered education, crime deterrence), and its nation (constitutional defense, fair elections).

This analysis critically examines the identity of the Democratic Party based on its major failures and aims to derive implications for the direction of the U.S. as a global leader in light of its national interests.

Failure in Border Security and Immigration Policy: Increased Illegal Entry, Drugs, and Crime

The Democratic Party's "comprehensive immigration" ideology threatens national security by weakening border controls. During the Biden administration (2021-2024), over 10 million illegal entries occurred at the southern border (according to U.S. Department of Homeland Security data), leading to the infiltration of gangs (like MS-13) and drug cartels (based in Mexico).

Recently, in Washington, two members of the National Guard were shot by individuals from Afghanistan (the U.S. had a humiliating withdrawal from Afghanistan during the Biden administration), resulting in one fatality and one critically injured. Following this incident, Trump declared a complete re-evaluation of immigration and asylum from the Third World.

In Texas and Arizona, drug smuggling has more than doubled, with over 100,000 annual deaths from fentanyl and opioids. Drugs and criminals, including human traffickers, are undermining America's security and economy, and have caused public safety costs to skyrocket by deploying agencies like ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the National Guard.

While the Democratic Party defends its immigration policy, claiming illegal immigration can fill labor shortages, the reality is that the calculation that illegal immigrants, among others, will become Democratic voters plays a significant role.

In cities led by Democrats (Washington D.C., Chicago, Portland, LA), "tolerance for crime" policies (such as prosecutor immunity laws) have led to a 30-50% increase in murder rates and accelerated business departures. This weakens law enforcement for an upright society and has resulted in economic decline (e.g., a 20% drop in retail sales in LA).

Political Retaliation and Constitutional Erosion: Targeting Trump

The Democratic Party's identity has manifested through the abuse of the legal system (Lawfare) to eliminate Republican supporters (especially Trump supporters led by MAGA and Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA). The two impeachment attempts against Trump (2019, 2021), the 92 indictments (primarily led by Democratic prosecutors), and allegations related to two assassination attempts (Pennsylvania and Florida incidents in 2024) are highly political retribution using judicial institutions. This undermines the rule of law and America's fairness.

* The astronomical fines imposed by New York Attorney General Letitia James on Trump's legitimate businesses, the indictment of Trump and his associates by Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis on charges of election law violations, and the indictment of Trump by Special Counsel Jack Smith for alleged mishandling of classified documents.

The recent instance of six Democratic members of the House and Senate inciting "disobedience of orders" among soldiers constitutes an act that undermines national interests by threatening constitutional loyalty (military command). This pattern is evidence of the "Deep State" (a persistent bureaucratic network) colluding with the Democratic Party to control the government, thereby destroying fair and sound democracy.

Radicalization of Social and Cultural Policies: Undermining Family and Traditional Values

The Democratic Party's progressive ideology (LGBTQ+ rights, DEI, expansion of transgender rights) fuels social division. Even within the military, homosexuality and transgenderism have been allowed. Allowing transgender women to participate in women's sports (attempted amendment of Title IX) undermines fair competition, and restricting Christian education in schools (e.g., opposition to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law) infringes on freedom of religion. They are even trying to erase America's Christian traditions, such as by promoting the use of "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas."

Support for the BLM (Black Lives Matter) movement has condoned violent protests, leading to urban destruction (an estimated $2 billion in damages in 2020). Many Democratic Socialists (like Bernie Sanders and Dane D'Mani, recently elected mayor of New York City) wield influence within the party, weakening capitalism. This shakes the foundation for an upright society (family-centered, moral education) and has exacerbated the mental health crisis among youth (a 20% increase in suicide rates).

Unrealistic Economic and Environmental Policies: Energy Crisis and Fiscal Ruin

The "worship" of climate change and excessive environmental regulations (Green New Deal) have led to the abandonment of energy independence. Biden's return to the Paris Agreement and restrictions on fossil fuels have caused U.S. energy prices to surge by 50%. Inadequate forest management due to climate policies and unrealistic policies such as draining reservoirs to protect agriculture and fishing have led to disasters like the major fires in Los Angeles in 2025. Furthermore, it has weakened America's position as a strong and prosperous nation by causing it to lose its status as an energy exporter.

Large trade and fiscal deficits (annual deficit of $2 trillion) have increased dependence on China. The Democratic Party led China's entry into the WTO in 2000, resulting in the loss of 5 million U.S. manufacturing jobs, and Biden and his son Hunter's pro-China lobbying (Ukraine and China business) has threatened national security.

The recent government shutdown, lasting over 40 days (the longest in U.S. history) due to demands for Medicare subsidies, has undermined fiscal soundness in the name of welfare expansion, leading to unpaid salaries for public officials like military personnel and paralysis of air traffic.

Election Integrity and Foreign Policy/Judicial Issues: Loss of Fairness

Suspicions of election fraud (expansion of mail-in voting in 2020, voter registration using Chinese driver's licenses) are vulnerabilities caused by the Democratic Party's emphasis on voting access. Recently, Trump has signaled a strong determination to eradicate election fraud, foreshadowing large-scale global investigations.

The leftward shift of legacy media (CNN, NYT, etc.) manipulates public opinion through distortion of facts and condones anti-Semitism (by allowing campus protests at universities like Harvard and Columbia), weakening alliances such as with Israel. The Epstein affair, involving many Democratic figures like Clinton, symbolizes elite corruption, and the politicization of judicial institutions (FBI and DOJ investigations into Trump, etc.) has destroyed the fairness of the law.

The Democratic Party has concealed Biden's cognitive decline (signs of dementia) throughout his term, and the use of autopen (automatic signature) clearly reveals their loss of morality and leadership vacuum.

Need for a Change in Direction for the Democratic Party for U.S. National Interest

The Democratic Party's identity began with the pursuit of idealistic equality but has degenerated into extreme progressivism and a instinct for power retention, harming national security (border and China threats), economic strength and prosperity (deficits, energy), an upright society (family, rule of law), and national unity (elections, constitution). This accelerates the decline of the U.S. as a whole when it fails to balance with the conservatism of the Republican Party.

For the true national interest of the United States, the Democratic Party must revert to strengthening borders, fiscal balance, and respecting traditional values. Voters have a responsibility to monitor these patterns. This is a judgment based not on ideological advocacy but on the Constitution and historical lessons. South Korea must also learn from these cautionary tales, restore the fundamental principles and morality of the nation, including the basic order of liberal democracy as prescribed by the Constitution, to survive in a challenging international environment through national prosperity and military strength.

Representative of the National Union for Free Unification, Doctor of Public Administration, President of the Global Aerospace Industry Association