At the start of every year, the President of the United States delivers the State of the Union address before Congress, presenting an assessment of the country and outlining future priorities.

Trump’s most recent speech, on February 24, was a horror show. This comes as no surprise when Trump is involved. What does deserve attention, however, is that the president escalated his rhetoric at a moment when his policies are increasingly isolated and his popularity is declining—unlike the situation a year ago.

There are two ways to interpret the Republican’s stance. On the one hand, the tone he adopted may prove to be a massive blunder, deepening his isolation and leading to defeat in the midterm elections this coming November. On the other hand, the president may have signaled that, fully aware of his falling approval ratings, he intends to push the far-right movement toward an all-or-nothing strategy.

Several elements of the speech pointed in the direction of doubling down, albeit sometimes ambiguously.

On the economic front, the president refused to confront the country’s reality, in which most of the population continues to complain about inflation and the high cost of living. Instead, he attacked the Supreme Court for blocking tariffs and doubled down on their reimposition—this time at a rate of 10% to 15% on imports from around the world. The backbone of the speech remained nationalism and the promise of a U.S. “golden age,” echoing neo-fascist rhetoric.

Moreover, the statements on foreign policy aligned with the new National Security Strategy released in December. This marks the assertion of a new level of aggressiveness and neocolonialism in U.S. imperialism, with a particular focus on the Americas, as demonstrated by the attack on Venezuela. Just days after the speech, the United States—together with the genocidal state of Israel—launched the war currently underway in Iran.

It was, however, in domestic politics that the all-or-nothing insinuation was most clearly expressed. Beyond the habitual vulgarity and aggression with which he addressed his opponents, Trump doubled down on two issues: immigration and elections.

Although defeated in the Minneapolis showdown and currently not sponsoring another concentrated ICE operation of the same kind (even as the agency continues to operate nationwide), the president once again launched racist attacks against immigrants, including the Somali community in Minneapolis. In response, Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib shouted toward the president, holding him responsible for the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. It became clear that the battle over ICE’s repressive policies will unfold in successive phases and is only just beginning.

As for elections—the looming threat to bourgeois democracy—Trump once again insinuated the existence of electoral fraud, claimed that Democrats only win by cheating, and called for “urgent action” by Congress (currently under Republican control) regarding the midterms. Days earlier, the official White House social media account had posted a video suggesting a “popular appeal” for a third Trump term.

When it comes to Trump, it is always difficult to distinguish political theater from a real offensive. At the same time, fascist politics are characterized by repeated probes and insinuations until an actual attempt to upend the system is made. It should also be recalled that in 2020 Trump was recorded ordering officials to “find” the extra votes he needed to win the election he ultimately lost to Joe Biden. An attempt at electoral fraud by Trump would not be unprecedented—it would be a repeat offense.

Regardless of speculation, what matters now is that the broad movement opposing Trumpist neo-fascism be prepared to act. This includes electoral organizing for the midterms, on the one hand, but also the continuation of street mobilization, on the other. Another No Kings Day has been called for March 28 and is expected to incorporate opposition to the war in Iran into its agenda. Rapid-response organizations against ICE are spreading across the country, inspired by Minneapolis. Recent strikes—such as those by New York nurses and San Francisco teachers—have secured victories. Preparations for large-scale mobilizations on May 1 are growing. Political consciousness nationwide has advanced, driven by the force of reality itself.

If Trump moves toward an all-or-nothing gamble, it is necessary to be ready to defend democracy and civil liberties—and to reserve for him what he deserves: the dustbin of history.

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