Trump has attacked pillars of democracy, Human Rights Watch says

US President Donald Trump has weakened core pillars of American democracy through his policies and rhetoric, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Wednesday, issuing a sharp warning in its annual global report that reviews rights conditions in more than 100 countries.

In an unusually US-focused introduction, the New York-based rights group said the Trump administration’s actions on immigration, voting rights and civil liberties marked a troubling shift at home and a retreat from Washington’s traditional role as a global advocate for human rights.
HRW Executive Director Philippe Bolopion said the consequences of these changes would extend well beyond US borders. “In 2026, the fight for the future of human rights will play out most sharply in the United States, with consequences for the rest of the world,” he said in a video message launching the report.
Bolopion later told reporters that the organisation was witnessing a “rapid decline in the quality of democracy” in the US, arguing that Washington was now emboldening authoritarian governments by stepping back from defending democratic values internationally. He said this shift was benefiting countries such as Russia and China, which have long been criticised for rights abuses.
The White House rejected the findings, accusing HRW of political bias. Spokesperson Anna Kelly said the organisation was suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and claimed the president had advanced human rights by ending wars, defending religious freedom and dismantling what she called the politicisation of government under the previous administration.
HRW’s report accused the Trump administration of using racist tropes and adopting rhetoric aligned with white nationalist ideology. It highlighted the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers, including large-scale deportations, the transfer of hundreds of migrants to a high-security prison in El Salvador, and the expanded use of masked, heavily armed immigration officers across US cities, which has triggered protests in several states.
Trump’s tough stance on immigration was a central theme of his 2024 election campaign and remains a key pillar of his presidency.
Beyond the US, the report said China continued to systematically suppress freedoms of expression and religion, while Russia intensified its crackdown on dissent and civil society. It also criticised Israel for escalating military operations in Gaza, though Israel has said it is acting in line with international law to counter Hamas.
Separately, HRW confirmed that two staff members resigned this week after the organisation paused publication of a report on Palestinian refugees’ right of return, adding to internal controversy surrounding the report’s release.