Trump attacks Democrats as ‘godless communists’ in test of midterms message

Trump addresses religious conservatives at the Faith & Freedom summit in Washington on Friday. Photograph: Bonnie Cash/Pool/CNP/Shutterstock View image in fullscreen Trump addresses religious conservatives at the Faith & Freedom summit in Washington on Friday. Photograph: Bonnie Cash/Pool/CNP/Shutterstock Trump attacks Democrats as ‘godless communists’ in test of midterms message President seizes on wins by Mamdani-backed candidates to warn darkly of threat to ‘traditional American way of life’ Donald Trump has previewed a Republican strategy for the midterm elections, seizing on a progressive sweep in New York to portray Democrats as “godless communists” who pose an existential threat to the nation. The US president, who was a child during the “red scare”, seized on wins by democratic socialists backed by the mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani , to stoke fears that the Democratic party has embraced extremism that could lead to the violent persecution of Christians. Former Trump adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to mishandling classified information Read more On Friday, Trump was addressing religious conservatives at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s annual Road to Majority conference at the Washington Hilton hotel – his first appearance there since April, when he was rushed off stage after an assassination attempt at the White House correspondents’ dinner. “I remember this place not so long ago,” he quipped. “Hopefully we’re going to have a little more pleasant experience.” Trump hit some familiar themes in his address, defending his war in Iran, making false claims of election rigging and stressing the importance of Republicans retaining control of the House of Representatives and Senate in the November midterms. He focused on Tuesday’s Democratic primary election results in New York , where three leftwing candidates endorsed by Mamdani, a democratic socialist who is the city’s first Muslim mayor, upset incumbent or establishment rivals. The radical left “want to resume the transgender mutilation of children, they want to restart the war on Christians and churches, and as you saw with the communists elected in New York recently … they want to completely destroy the traditional American way of life,” Trump warned. “Communism is very easy to sell. It destroys everything, but it is very easy. And I’ll be honest – I think I’d be the greatest communist in history.” Mockingly, the president said as a communist he could give free rent, houses and food but the country would inevitably fail after two or three years. He said: “Everyone will suffer or die. That’s what happens.” Trump, who has been the subject of three assassination attempts over the past two years, added darkly: “I’m sorry to say but the assassinations of those who oppose them is a very important element of their ideology. Assassinations are a big deal for them. They are animals!” He described the election winners in New York as “very troubling people” and claimed without evidence that they