OPINION: Iowa man asks, “Did the American Dream Die?”

I voted for Donald Trump in 2016. I liked some of his ideas. I believed he could shake up the career politicians who seemed out of touch. I thought maybe he’d bring a business-minded approach and challenge a broken system. I also believed then—like many others—that the president is not a dictator. I said to friends, ‘There are checks and balances. He doesn’t have all the power.’

But in the years since, I’ve watched with growing concern. The checks and balances I trusted are being tested like never before. The American Dream—our shared vision of freedom, democracy, and opportunity—is beginning to crack. And I’m asking myself: did we let it die?

This isn’t about being a Republican or a Democrat. It’s about being an American. Because when leaders start talking about ignoring term limits, controlling the press, seizing foreign territories, and questioning the legitimacy of elections—they are crossing lines that should concern us all.

Many of my fellow Americans—especially people of faith—still support Trump. In 2024, about 82% of White evangelical Protestants voted for him (Pew Research Center). I understand why. He promised to protect religious freedom, to stand up for traditional values, and to be a fighter. I felt the same once.

But I also believe faith teaches us to judge a leader not just by their words, but by their actions. Jesus warned, ‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.’ (Matthew 7:15-16)

So we must ask: What are the fruits? Attacks on immigrants, mocking the disabled, silencing the press, dividing families, threatening opponents—these are not the actions of a humble, principled leader. And they don’t reflect the teachings of Christ.

I’m not saying this to attack anyone’s beliefs. I’m saying it because I believe we’ve reached a point where silence is no longer an option.

When the United States was founded, George Washington could have made himself a king. He chose to step down after two terms. He warned against the consolidation of power, saying in 1796, ‘It is important… that you resist with care the spirit of innovation upon its principles.’

Now, we are hearing a very different tone. Trump has joked about running for a third term, floated taking over Canada and Greenland, and called the media ‘the enemy of the people.’ These are not harmless words. They test how far the public is willing to go.

We’ve seen this kind of testing before in history. Adolf Hitler used repetition and fear to normalize lies. His propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, said, ‘If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.’

Trump’s repeated claims of a ‘stolen election’ follow this pattern. Courts have ruled against it. Evidence is lacking. But still, millions believe it—because repetition works.

Hitler also attacked the press, calling them the ‘lügenpresse’—the lying press. Trump echoes this language when he calls journalists ‘fake news’ and enemies. Benito Mussolini said, ‘Democracy is beautiful in theory; in practice it is a fallacy.’ He dismantled Italy’s democratic institutions by first discrediting them.

Trump has similarly discredited our courts, our elections, and our government watchdogs—institutions designed to protect us from tyranny. Even Vladimir Putin, once praised by Trump for being ‘strong,’ rose to power by controlling media, eliminating opposition, and rewriting the rules to stay in office.

I know some people will say this is alarmist. I get it. I used to believe we were protected from authoritarianism by the system. But systems only work when people protect them.

This is not about hating Trump. It’s about loving democracy more. It’s about loving our country enough to hold our leaders accountable—even the ones we once supported.

So I ask you, whether you voted for Trump or not: Are we still committed to the American Dream? Or are we letting power, fear, and loyalty to one man replace our faith in freedom and truth?

The American Dream isn’t dead. But it’s in trouble. And it’s up to us—all of us—to decide whether to save it.
It’s time to wake up—before it’s too late.

Submitted to NIT by Chad Bartholomew of Des Moines, Iowa – a former Mason City resident

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