In a recent Substack post and her book 'From Democracy To Democrazy: A Warning To All Americans,' bestselling author Elizabeth Graham issues a stark warning about the state of American democracy under President Donald Trump. Graham, who has written extensively on the Trump-Putin relationship and lived under authoritarian regimes, argues that Trump's corruption and dishonesty are driving a moral decline that threatens the nation's foundational values.
Graham writes that successful anti-authoritarian movements attack corruption and reclaim patriotic symbols. She contends that under Trump, veracity, verity, and factuality have nearly disappeared. 'Just laws relay the truth, and society's legal system needs to recognize and uphold the truth,' she states, adding that Trump believes he is above the law.
Highlighting the Epstein Files Transparency Act, enacted in November 2025, Graham notes that the law required the Department of Justice to release all records related to Jeffrey Epstein by December 19, 2025. However, the full release remains pending. Citing CBS News, she points to the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General monitoring fraud and abuse, but laments that Trump has evaded disclosure through distractions and wars.
Graham draws a historical parallel to the Declaration of Independence, noting that Thomas Jefferson wrote of equality while owning over 600 slaves. She calls this 'the fundamental lie of American equality' that has set a standard of dishonesty for generations. 'At no time in our post-Civil War history has American leaders and our society been more disoriented,' she writes.
The author accuses Trump of bigotry, citing the closure of USAID to stop aid to Africa, which she claims will lead to an estimated 15 million deaths by 2040, according to a study in The Lancet. She also condemns his treatment of immigrants as inhumane and based on intolerance.
Graham points to recent foreign policy failures, including Trump's public plea to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop attacks on Lebanon, which she says 'quickly blew up in his face' as Iran launched missiles in response. She recalls Trump's repeated promise to end the war in Ukraine in one day, a claim he made 53 times according to CNN, questioning whether he comprehends his own statements.
Citing the American Bar Association, Graham asserts that the Trump administration has exchanged government benefits, appointments, and policy decisions for financial contributions, creating an unprecedented pay-to-play culture. 'If key reforms are not passed, and if Trump is not held accountable, this corrupt political culture will do more than distort government – it will steadily destroy Americans' faith in their democracy,' she warns, adding that this is exactly what Vladimir Putin desires.
Graham's Substack, egraham.substack.com, offers daily or weekly messages drawing on her decades of experience in Russia. Her book, available on Amazon, has received praise from readers who describe it as an urgent warning about the threat Russia poses to America. Publisher Clare Harwood noted that Graham writes from lived experience, not theory, making her commentary on Trump's similarities to authoritarian leaders particularly compelling.
