Mimicking Trump, G.O.P. Contenders Feed Voter Distrust in Institutions

[BidenPresident]

As Donald J. Trump has escalated his attacks on the justice system and the “deep state,” his competitors for the Republican nomination have followed his lead.

Ron DeSantis says the military is more interested in global warming and “gender ideology” initiatives than in national security.

Tim Scott says the Justice Department “continues to hunt Republicans.”

Vivek Ramaswamy has vowed to “shut down the deep state,” borrowing former President Donald J. Trump’s conspiratorial shorthand for a federal bureaucracy he views as hostile.

As Mr. Trump escalates his attacks on American institutions, focusing his fire on the Justice Department as he faces new criminal charges, his competitors for the Republican nomination have followed his lead.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/07/us/politics/trump-republican-primary-candidate-trust.html

 

[BidenPresident]

"The proliferation of attacks has alarmed both Republicans and Democrats who worry about the long-term impact on American democracy. Public confidence in core institutions — from the justice system to voting systems — is fundamental to a durable democracy, particularly at a time of sharp political division.