As 2025 comes to an end, we can review the wreckage of freedom under Donald Trump. At this point it’s clear: Support for Trump is enmity toward America. This isn’t a case of a president being terrible as usual; it’s an existential threat to what the United States stands for.

Let’s make a list, in the style of the Declaration of Independence, of the outrages he has committed.

• He has created a masked secret police force to abduct people without due process and remove them to hellish prisons or countries where they never lived.
• He has made threats against people who legitimately record and report the activities of his secret police.
• He has imposed taxes on us without an act of Congress.
• He has had unarmed people murdered on the high seas.
• He has declared his intent to annex the territory of sovereign nations.
• He has engaged in acts of war against a nation that has not taken up arms against the United States, without authorization by Congress.
• He has threatened the lives of members of Congress for pointing out the legal obligations of the armed forces.
• He has granted pardons to criminals who attempted to overturn the election results and make him president.
• He has put or attempted to put his name or likeness, in the manner of an emperor, on currency, institutions, and ships.
• He has defaced the White House without consulting with Congress or appropriate agencies.
• He has intimidated private businesses into giving his government a measure of control or ownership of them.
• He has depicted himself with a royal crown.
• He has attempted to intimidate academic institutions, which should be independent of the government, into altering their policies to please him.
• He has used the power of his office to extort businesses into paying him money under legal settlements.
• He has replaced competent officials with minions who will carry out his whims and lie for him.
• He has attempted to breach the confidentiality of government records gathered for specific purposes.
• He has directed federal funding to reward supporters and punish opponents.
• He has constantly sought to replace the rule of law with the rule of brutality.

Probably I’ve omitted something important, there’s so much. These should be enough to show that, as the Declaration says, “A [president], whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the [leader] of a free people.” Congress has failed to keep him in check. Most of those who aren’t actively collaborating with him have abdicated their obligation to restrain him.

An armed uprising would be stupid. The government has too much firepower at its disposal, but there are actions we can take.

Keep speaking out. Make people aware of Trump’s crimes. Write or speak to elected officials, encouraging their opposition or berating their cooperation. Keep a dignified tone when speaking publicly; you have to maintain the high ground to persuade people. Insults and curses don’t change people’s minds.

Avoid talking to police if you think they’re working with ICE.

Tracking and reporting the activities of ICE is an admirable thing. So are protesting, aiding immigrants, and donating to organizations that help them. Sometimes it’s worth the risk of being beaten, pepper-sprayed, and arrested.

Those who hold positions of leadership should avoid granting Trump any presidential honors. They should address him as “Donald,” “Mr. Trump,” or “you asshole,” not as “Mr. President.”

State and local governments should refrain from collaborating with ICE and DHS. As long as Noem is running it, the entire department should be considered corrupt.

Hope is thin, but giving up guarantees defeat.