From left, former U.S. Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton. [Reuters=Yonhap News]

Since the inauguration of the Trump administration's second term in January 2025, the United States has experienced severe growing pains, with two government shutdowns in little over a year. This is not merely a budget dispute, but a manifestation of a grand ideological war surrounding the very foundation of American existence.

Government Shutdowns on the Brink

The first shutdown lasted a staggering 43 days, setting a new record for the longest in U.S. history. It was the result of a head-on collision between the Republican Party's agenda for "national normalization"—including the completion of the border wall, drastic cuts to inefficient budgets, and crackdowns on undocumented immigrants—and the Democratic Party's constant obstruction.

The second shutdown, which followed shortly after, was also triggered by the Democratic Party's physical resistance against President Trump's plan for mass deportation of undocumented immigrants and the allocation of funds for the Department of Homeland Security.

During this process, public inconvenience escalated with delayed airport screenings and unpaid wages for security personnel. Nevertheless, the Democratic Party, solely for partisan gain, was fixated on confirming the "presence of the opposition party." Ultimately, they could not escape the judgment of public opinion, which increasingly viewed them as obstructors of irresponsible governance.

The Democratic Party's Leftward Shift and the Trap of Identity Politics

The Democratic Party that once represented the interests of the working class has vanished. Instead, its place has been filled by destructive "identity politics" and radical socialist values.

The Clintons, entangled in moral controversies as revealed in the Epstein files, are at the center of criticism for being a privileged elite cartel. "Political correctness" (PC), which grew like a poisonous mushroom during the Obama era, is shaking the foundations of America.

The Biden-Harris administration, by uncritically embracing the voices of the radical left faction "The Squad," has elevated "DEI policies" of diversity, equity, and inclusion to the forefront of national governance.

This has become a tragic turning point, tearing apart traditional American values and plunging society into an ideological battleground. Currently, the Democratic Party is on a rampage, dominated by hard-left figures such as Senators Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, AOC (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), Ilhan Omar, and New York Mayor Zoë Saldana-Mamdani.

Historical Context and the Need for Self-Correction

The Democratic Party's leftward leaning history is deeply rooted. The fact that Alger Hiss, who held a high-ranking position in the State Department during the Roosevelt administration in the 1940s, was tried and imprisoned for Soviet espionage is highly significant. The McCarthyism that swept through at the time was not merely a frenzy but had a strong characteristic of national self-correction against communist infiltration.

Subsequently, the U.S. government strengthened the "Federal Loyalty-Security Program," institutionalizing ideological vetting for civil service appointments. In 1954, the "Communist Control Act" redefined the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) not as a political party but as a "conspiracy group for government subversion," and by designating it as an illegal organization without legal personality, it stripped it of all rights and privileges enjoyed by a political party (such as participation in elections).

Today, the expanding radical faction within the Democratic Party evokes a déjà vu of resurrected specters from the past, and the voices calling for national vigilance and punishment are louder than ever.

Judging from historical experience, communism has constantly plotted to subvert the liberal democratic system through revolution and infiltration.

As evidenced by countries that have undergone communization, we must never forget that totalitarian power usurped the freedom and prosperity of the people, leading the entire nation into a swamp of oppression and poverty as a single communist party monopolized power.

The Collapsed Border and the Corruption of Citizenship Values

The Biden administration's reckless "Open Border Policy" has turned America into a haven for crime, drugs, and gangs. The estimated 15 million undocumented immigrants are paralyzing public safety.

Even more deplorable is the fact that so-called "Sanctuary Cities" are obstructing the legitimate law enforcement efforts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), vehemently protesting the deployment of the National Guard for public safety, and thus neutralizing state authority.

In particular, the loophole of "Birthright Citizenship," which automatically grants citizenship regardless of parental status, has entrenched the illicit practice of "birth tourism." The "Trump v. Babbar" case currently before the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) is a righteous legal struggle by the conservative camp to prevent the erosion of national identity, viewing citizenship not merely as a matter of residency but as a defense against the degradation of national identity.

Election Fraud and the Crisis of the Rule of Law

Even the electoral system, the last bastion of democracy, is losing trust. With substantial evidence of fraudulent elections in the 2020 presidential race, the "SAVE America Act," passed by the House of Representatives in 2026, is a minimal safeguard requiring proof of citizenship for federal elections to prevent loopholes in mail-in voting and ID fraud. However, the Democratic Party is resisting this, falsely labeling it as "voter suppression."

Trump faced a staggering 92 indictments right before the 2024 presidential election, wielding the judicial system as a political weapon. The reality of legacy media outlets like The New York Times and CNN producing biased information clearly illustrates the severe crisis facing the rule of law in America.

External Influence from China and Corruption Allegations: A Crisis of National Security

Behind the Democratic Party's policy failures lie more serious suspicions of external collusion. Documents discovered on Hunter Biden's laptop corroborate improper dealings with Chinese and Ukrainian energy companies, leading to strong criticism that this has resulted in the Biden administration's subservient stance towards China.

The radical left faction and globalists within the Democratic Party have relaxed their strong containment of China for ideological alignment, leading to accusations of "representing China's interests" by selling out America's national interests to adversaries.

Specifically, analyses, particularly from conservative think tanks, consistently suggest that anti-American communist forces and Chinese funding are behind movements causing social unrest, such as the BLM (Black Lives Matter) riots and "No Kings" protests. This is not merely a social issue but a national security emergency.

Economic Hollowization and the Loss of Energy Sovereignty

The Democratic Party's policy failures are also evident in the numbers. Businesses are fleeing from "Blue States" governed by Democratic governors, such as California and New York, to "Red States" like Texas and Florida. Between 2020 and 2025, approximately over 200 companies have relocated their headquarters to Texas, with more than half of them coming from California.

Even more shocking is the excessive corruption in regions governed by Democrats. In Minnesota under Tim Walz, a tragedy of $250 million (approximately 377.5 billion won) in child nutrition funds was embezzled. Gavin Newsom's California squandered a astronomical sum of $20 billion (30 trillion won) in taxpayer money through unemployment benefit fraud. New Jersey also depleted its state budget through insurance fraud by public officials.

"Green New Deal," mired in climate ideology, has led to the voluntary surrender of energy sovereignty, ultimately resulting in an outcome no different from "treason" by only strengthening China's influence.

Clash of Values and the Decline of Cities

Policies pushed by the Democratic Party, such as radical LGBTQ policies, subsidies for child transgender transitions, and opposition to religious education, are eroding America's spiritual foundation.

As a result of the movement to defund the police, public safety in major cities has collapsed. Cities like San Francisco are becoming "ghost towns" with their downtown commercial districts ravaged by crime and drugs.

 Restoration of Liberal Democracy Based on Common Sense

America stands at a historical turning point with the re-election of Trump and the MAGA (Make America Great Again) and America First policies, leading to intensified state-level divisions along party lines.

The conservative camp calls this the "restoration of the American spirit," while the progressive camp is expected to resist, framing their dismantled ideology as "preserving values."

Ultimately, the stern judgment of the public against excessive radicalism and the choice of the "Silent Majority" of common sense will determine America's destiny. The true restoration of American leadership can only be completed when it abandons ideological dogmatism and returns to pragmatism centered on traditional values and national interests.

◆ Dr. Shin Dong-choon

Ph.D. in Public Administration, President of the Global Aerospace Industry Association, and Representative of the National Federation for Freedom and Unification. After passing the 21st Higher Civil Service Examination, he served in public office before embarking on a vibrant career as a corporate CEO, university professor, media contributor, author, and President of the Global Aerospace Industry Association.