A prominent American historian has warned that President Donald Trump could declare a national emergency and delay or suspend the November midterm elections to retain power.
Robert Darnton, a renowned historian and former Princeton University professor, raised these concerns in a recent interview with Argentine daily La Nación, published on the 8th (local time).
"Trump has publicly stated that sometimes a dictator is necessary," Darnton said.
"The most dangerous scenario is halting the midterm elections under the pretext of an emergency," he said. "Military forces are already deployed in several U.S. cities. This signals how far he could go to maintain power."
Darnton, a world authority on 18th-century French Revolution studies, served as a Harvard University endowed professor and library director. He received the U.S. National Humanities Medal in 2011 and currently resides in Paris.
Darnton diagnosed American society as tilting toward authoritarianism amid converging media distrust, self-censorship, and political division. La Nación also cited his remarks, reporting dangerous signs of despotism emerging in the current U.S. political and social climate.
He identified as particularly problematic that many Trump supporters distrust mainstream media and intellectuals while accepting the president's statements without filter.
"Many citizens receive information only through social media, not newspapers or broadcasts," Darnton said. "False and inaccurate information is spreading rapidly, becoming a serious threat to democracy."
He also warned of spreading self-censorship. "There is no official state censorship, but an atmosphere of self-restraint driven by fear is spreading," Darnton said. He explained that not only immigrant communities and minorities but also elite institutions including major law firms and universities are changing positions or accepting government demands under pressure.
Darnton raised concerns about changes in the media environment, criticizing that "capital and political power are combining to exert strong pressure on the press" as independent media foundations are shaken by acquisitions and journalist layoffs.
Citing French Enlightenment thinker Montesquieu, Darnton warned: "The core principle of despotism is fear. Fear-based politics is becoming reality in America today."
He analyzed that President Trump is pushing policies to justify absolute power, with the National Security Strategy released last year clearly emphasizing a power-based international order over democracy or freedom.
However, Darnton added that "strong opposition exists within American society," citing polls showing 60-70% of Americans are critical of recent wars and government policies.
As Darnton's warning emerged, discord continues over President Trump's planned China visit. The White House announced Trump would visit China from March 31 to April 2 for a summit with President Xi Jinping, but preparations have been rocky.
According to Reuters, the U.S. side only recently began interagency working meetings, drawing Chinese complaints, and the composition of an economic delegation remains undecided. Ryan Hass, director of the China Center at the Brookings Institution, said: "This state visit seems to keep shrinking." He forecast the visit would likely maintain the stabilization trend since late last year rather than achieve a clear breakthrough.
