A comprehensive analysis of 10,000 posts by former President Donald Trump has documented a sustained and deliberate assault on democratic institutions. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford’s Institute for Information Governance, examined Trump’s statements across social media platforms from 2015 to 2021.
The findings reveal a pattern of rhetoric that systematically undermines trust in electoral processes, the judiciary, and the media. Among the key observations: over 2,500 posts contained unsubstantiated claims of electoral fraud. A further 1,200 advocated for the dismissal of legal officials or judges. The data also show a sharp increase in language that delegitimises the mainstream press, with terms such as “fake news” appearing in more than 800 posts.
“This is not merely political hyperbole,” said Dr. Eleanor Marsh, lead author of the study. “It represents a calculated erosion of the norms that underpin liberal democracy.”
Trump’s allies have dismissed the analysis as partisan. A spokesperson for the former president described the study as “a hit job by radical leftists.”
International observers have expressed concern. The European Union’s Democracy Action Plan, released earlier this year, warns that such tactics are characteristic of “hybrid threats” aimed at destabilising democracies from within.
The implications for the United States are significant. With the 2024 presidential campaign already underway, the study raises questions about the resilience of American institutions. “The damage is cumulative,” noted Professor James Corbett of Georgetown University. “Each baseless claim normalises the next.”
Democrats have seized on the report. Senator Elizabeth Warren called for new legislation to hold political leaders accountable for spreading disinformation. “We cannot afford to treat this as a partisan issue,” she said. “It is a threat to our system of government.”
Republicans, meanwhile, are divided. Some have distanced themselves from Trump’s rhetoric, while others continue to echo his language. The analysis suggests that the pattern is unlikely to change. “Trump’s strategy has been remarkably consistent,” said Dr. Marsh. “He sees democratic norms as obstacles to be dismantled.”
The full dataset has been made publicly available for verification. Researchers hope it will serve as a warning for democracies worldwide. As the digital age enables ever-faster dissemination of information, the speed at which norms erode may accelerate.
“Democracy is not self-sustaining,” concluded Professor Corbett. “It requires constant effort to protect its institutions. This report shows what happens when that effort is lacking.”
