By Tony Bruce & Mary Jones | Sunday, May 11, 2025 | 5 min read

Taking back the White House in 2028 will not be a normal political challenge for Democrats. It will be one of the hardest tests the party has faced in generations. The damage left behind by the Trump years—and the power those years still exert over American politics—is deep and unresolved. Institutions were bent, norms were shattered, and corruption was treated as a governing style rather than a scandal. None of that simply fades with time. Repairing it will require intention, courage, and leadership that does not flinch when accountability becomes uncomfortable.

It’s time to be honest about what this moment demands. Call it Project 2028 if you want—a national effort grounded in the everyday hopes of Americans who want their democracy back, and aimed directly at dismantling the grip of oligarchs, disinformation networks, and political actors who benefit from chaos. Trumpism is not a relic of the past. It is a living force, sustained by money, grievance politics, and a Republican Party that has repeatedly shown it is willing to sacrifice democratic norms to hold power.

This fight is about restoring what has been lost and protecting what remains. Winning an election alone will not be enough. What’s required is a movement rooted in truth, driven by purpose, and unwilling to allow the country to slide any further toward authoritarian decay. That’s why the message has to be unmistakable: Restore America. Guard Elections. R.A.G.E. is not performative outrage. It’s principled anger—the kind that comes from watching democratic guardrails stripped away in real time and refusing to accept it as normal.

Declaring a national Day of R.A.G.E. would be more than symbolism. It would acknowledge the emotional reality many Americans are living with: a sense that the system has been gamed and that accountability has been uneven at best. This is a fight for the soul of the nation, and the language Democrats use should reflect that gravity.

Before moving forward, Democrats also need to fully confront the extent of the damage. The Trump administration is sure to leave behind serious questions about document handling, obstruction, and the politicization of agencies meant to serve the public, not a president’s personal interests. There is a real risk that, if Trump’s influence finally collapses, allies could attempt last-minute destruction of records or legal sabotage, just as past administrations facing scandal have done. Planning for that possibility is not paranoia—it’s prudence.

That reality makes the choice of nominee absolutely critical. The next Democratic candidate must be beyond reproach. Not mostly clean. Completely clean. Republicans have proven they will exploit even the slightest ethical ambiguity to derail investigations and muddy the waters. The Biden administration’s caution—especially its reluctance to aggressively pursue Trump’s wrongdoing—has shown how costly that vulnerability can be. Fear of retaliation, particularly involving family members, constrained Biden in moments that demanded clarity and force. Trump exploited that hesitation, reframing the conversation away from his conduct and toward manufactured scandals.

That failure reshaped the battlefield. Instead of Trump answering for his actions, Democrats found themselves defending against distractions. Public trust suffered. The myth of a double standard grew stronger. The next nominee cannot walk into that same trap. If investigations into Trump-era abuses are to proceed without hesitation, the president must be politically untouchable.

That is where the question of leadership becomes unavoidable. The moment calls for someone whose appeal is not rooted in charisma or ideology, but in credibility. The country needs a leader defined by unimpeachable ethics, a deep understanding of the law, and a demonstrated willingness to pursue accountability regardless of status or power. There can be no obvious conflicts to exploit, no family entanglements to weaponize, no cloud of doubt that could be used to delay or derail justice.

If Trump’s hold on power is finally broken in 2028, Democrats must move quickly. Records must be preserved. Any attempt at last-minute pardons or obstruction must be challenged. The Justice Department’s independence must be restored immediately, without compromise. Accountability cannot be delayed or diluted without consequences for the future.

At the same time, Democrats must offer more than prosecutions. People need to see a future worth fighting for. That means protecting voting rights, rebuilding an economy that works for workers instead of donors, addressing climate reality with urgency, and expanding access to affordable healthcare. Accountability and vision must move together.

The stakes could not be higher. The 2028 election is not just about winning power—it’s about whether American democracy can recover from sustained assault. If Democrats shrink from that responsibility, corruption becomes normalized and the door opens wider to the next authoritarian figure. But if they meet the moment with clarity and courage, they can restore faith in government and reset the trajectory of the country.

Restore America. Guard Elections. That is not just a slogan. It’s a mandate. Project 2028 begins now.

Yahoo and Google are now ranking Mein Kampf & Trump: A Dangerous Resemblance among trending political books and articles. What’s fueling the attention? Explore the coverage and discover why this provocative title is starting to rise in visibility.