Donald Trump has dragged the United States to the brink of autocracy, and Nigel Farage could do the same to Britain if his populist surge continues, according to a new analysis. The warning comes as Reform UK leads in the polls, with Farage’s “Make Britain Great Again” rhetoric echoing Trump’s playbook.
The commentary highlights Trump’s rapid assault on democratic institutions, including courts, universities, the civil service, and the press. It cites the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the ABC host criticised Republicans for politicising the killing of activist Charlie Kirk. The Federal Communications Commission chair, Brendan Carr, threatened the network, saying “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” Kimmel was taken off air.
Trump has also filed a $15bn lawsuit against the New York Times for “spreading false and defamatory content,” a move seen as an attempt to intimidate the media. Smaller outlets, lacking resources for a legal battle, may self-censor. Meanwhile, Trump aide Stephen Miller has vowed to crack down on left-of-centre organisations whose “messaging” is “designed to trigger and incite violence,” a category that could broadly include opposition groups.
In the UK, the article notes that up to 150,000 people marched in London last week behind Tommy Robinson, a far-right activist and convicted criminal. Elon Musk addressed the rally via video link, telling the crowd “violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die” and calling for the Labour government to be brought down. Downing Street initially failed to condemn Musk’s remarks, only responding after pressure from MPs and reporters.
Polling suggests Reform UK could beat both Labour and the Conservatives at the next election. The author argues that Farage, though not a fan of Robinson, is following Trump’s path and that Britain must act now to “puncture the populist myth” before it is too late.
