Trump attacks DSA candidates as 'communists.' Will it stick?

August 2, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In June 2025, a wave of young, charismatic candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) won competitive Democratic primaries in New York, Colorado, and Washington, D.C. Candidates like Claire Valdez, who defeated the Brooklyn Borough President, and Melat Heroes, who toppled a longtime Democratic incumbent, are running on a platform of economic populism: Medicare for all, free child care, higher minimum wages, and affordable housing. As the midterms approach, Republicans—led by President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson—are responding with a specific line of attack. They are calling these candidates communists. "Communism is a mortal threat," Trump said at Mount Rushmore, adding that it is "the greatest threat to our country, including World War One, World War II, Pearl Harbor, or even 9/11." This episode of the NPR Politics Podcast, featured on Up First, unpacks the strategy behind this accusation and whether it will actually work.

The Definition Gap: Communism vs. Democratic Socialism

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What you'll learn

1 (00:05) **Progressive Wave and Republican Alarm** - Aisha Roscoe introduces a wave of DSA-backed progressive candidates winning primaries and the Republican response.
2 (01:38) **Introducing the NPR Politics Podcast Discussion** - The Sunday story hands off to the NPR Politics Podcast team to unpack the communism accusation.
3 (02:47) **Trump's Communism Rhetoric in Context** - Franco explains how Trump is centering communism as a key midterm message.
4 (05:03) **Defining Communism vs. Democratic Socialism** - Alina clarifies the critical distinction between the two ideologies.
5 (06:55) **Why Trump is Pushing This Now** - Franco explains the political calculus behind the communism attack.
6 (08:52) **How DSA Candidates Respond** - Alina reports that the candidates are brushing off the accusations.
7 (10:27) **The Electorate's Appeal to DSA Candidates** - Alina explains why these candidates are energizing the Democratic base.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Franco Ordoñez Elena Moore

Show Notes

President Trump has repeatedly warned that the communists are coming for America. And he’s not talking about China or North Korea. He’s talking about Democratic Socialists like Zohran Mamdani and recent Congressional candidates.

This week on The Sunday Story, we bring you a conversation from our colleagues at The NPR Politics Podcast. They argue that as the midterms near, crying “communism” may be a key Republican strategy. They discuss whether there’s any legitimacy to the claim, what Republicans hope to achieve by making it, and whether voters will be convinced.

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