The Everyday Democrat’s Guide to Anarchism: Resistance in Trump’s Second Term
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By: Lisa M. Hayes
Traditional resistance hasn’t worked the way we hoped. Marches, petitions, voting drives—they’ve been powerful, but when a system is as deeply corrupt as this one, resistance within its rules only gets you so far. If Trump’s second term becomes our reality, it’s time for a hard shift. It’s time to rethink what resistance looks like—and that means going beyond the bounds of Democratic norms. It means tapping into something deeper, something bolder.
Maybe it means embracing anarchism—not the chaos and violence the media loves to associate with the word, but the radical, liberatory spirit of it. Anarchism isn’t about destruction—it’s about rejecting corrupt systems and building something better in their place. It’s about decentralizing power, taking care of each other, and saying, “We don’t need permission from the system to create change.”
Here’s how everyday Democrats can start leaning into anarchist principles as a form of resistance:
1. Question the System, Not Just the Figurehead
It’s easy to hate Trump—and rightfully so. But the truth is, he’s not the disease; he’s a symptom. The real problem is the system that allows someone like him to rise to power in the first place. A system built on white supremacy, capitalism, and patriarchy. A system that prioritizes profit over people, corporations over communities, and power over justice.
Anarchism asks us to stop looking for heroes within the system and start dismantling the system itself. It’s not about replacing one bad leader with a slightly less bad one. It’s about rejecting the idea that any centralized power structure can be trusted to take care of us.
2. Build Local, Decentralized Communities
Anarchism thrives on the power of small, local networks. While Democrats often focus on federal elections, the truth is that real change starts in our neighborhoods. The more we invest in local organizing, the less power the system has over us.
This means:
- Supporting mutual aid networks to meet immediate needs without relying on failing institutions.
- Strengthening local coalitions to protect marginalized communities from harm.
- Redirecting resources into community-based initiatives that provide education, healthcare, and food security outside the grips of capitalism.
When we take care of each other, we weaken the system that thrives on our dependence.
3. Practice Direct Action
Direct action is at the heart of anarchism—and it’s something Democrats need to embrace. This isn’t about waiting for the next election or begging politicians to do the right thing. It’s about taking matters into our own hands.
- Organize sit-ins to disrupt oppressive systems.
- Shut down pipelines, detention centers, or businesses profiting from exploitation.
- Boycott corporations funding harmful policies.
Direct action is unapologetic. It’s messy. And it works.
4. Shift Power from Institutions to People
Democrats are often criticized for placing too much faith in institutions like the courts, the police, or Congress. But if Trump’s presidency has shown us anything, it’s that these systems can’t be trusted to protect us.
Anarchism teaches us to shift power away from institutions and into the hands of the people. This means creating spaces where we can organize outside of traditional structures—autonomous zones, worker cooperatives, or even underground networks of resistance.
5. Embrace Solidarity, Not Charity
Under anarchism, the goal isn’t to save people—it’s to stand with them. Solidarity means recognizing that none of us are free until all of us are free. It means showing up for each other in meaningful ways:
- Protecting undocumented neighbors from ICE.
- Joining protests, even when the risk feels high.
- Redistributing wealth and resources to those most impacted by the system.
Solidarity says, “Your fight is my fight.”
6. Break the Rules, But Hold Your Values
Anarchism isn’t lawlessness—it’s principled resistance. It’s about refusing to follow rules that uphold oppression while staying grounded in values of equity, justice, and liberation. It’s about being wild without losing sight of what we’re fighting for.
So yes, break their rules. Disrupt. Resist. But hold the line when it comes to compassion, dignity, and care.
7. Let Go of Perfection
This kind of resistance is messy. There’s no perfect path, no flawless blueprint. But perfection isn’t the goal—freedom is. Anarchism isn’t about getting it all right. It’s about trying, failing, learning, and trying again.
Anarchy as a Path Forward
If Trump’s second term becomes our reality, resistance will need to get bolder, louder, and harder to ignore. It’s not enough to rely on the same old strategies and hope they’ll magically work this time. It’s time to think bigger. To organize deeper. To embrace the radical idea that we don’t need their system to thrive—we need each other.
Anarchism isn’t chaos. It’s courage. It’s community. It’s the refusal to settle for anything less than liberation.
The question is: Are we ready to stop playing their game and start building something new?
Lisa Hayes is a life coach, writer, and editor of Confluence Daily, specializing in social issues, political issues, and mental health. Her work has appeared in publications like Huffington Post and Real Simple. She is also the Communications Director for a local fire department in Mexico and runs a life coach training program called The Coaching Guild.
