Under Trump, the US tightens its grip on women's suffrage US President Donald Trump intensified his warnings about an alleged communist advance in the Democratic Party on the eve of November's mid-term elections. The Republican's political team assesses whether the message can have repercussions that go beyond his most loyal voters. Preliminary findings from the team's focus groups suggest that the message strongly mobilizes Trump's base and could increase turnout among Republican voters who vote sporadically, according to two sources familiar with the matter. But the message seems less effective among independents — often decisive in close races — and among younger voters who didn't live through the Cold War. ? Follow g1's international news channel on WhatsApp ? The Cold War was the period of political, military, economic and ideological rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union that lasted from the end of the Second World War in 1945 until the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Although the two powers never came into direct confrontation, they competed for global influence through alliances, proxy wars, the arms race and the space race. The conflict ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union and marked the end of the bipolar world order. The success of democratic socialists and other progressive candidates in Democratic primaries in Colorado, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Texas and elsewhere has given Trump and his Republican counterparts a new line of attack: portraying Democrats as extremists rather than defending Trump's record on combating the high cost of living. A Reuters analysis of Trump's public comments between June 23 and July 6 — when a series of left-leaning Democratic candidates won their party's New York primaries — revealed that he invoked communism 81 times, including calling some of the victorious candidates "radical, godless communists." Read more: Trump's approval rating remains near historic low amid expectations of new gas hikes in the US In defeat for Trump, US Supreme Court allows counting of mail-in votes after election date Trump says the US is 'hope and light' in the world and says 'we don't want communists in our country' Many of the progressive candidates argue that combating the lack of affordability means taxing the rich, cutting military spending, opposing US funding to Israel, expanding government-funded programs and abolishing the Agency for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Trump — known for his direct political style — did not hesitate to label supporters of these proposals as communists. Many of the candidates, however, identify as democratic socialists who advocate adopting progressive policies through elections, while communism seeks to abolish private property and create a classless society. Olivia Wales, a White House spokeswoman, said that “Democrats' embrace of socialism and communism” is an “existential threat to our country” and that Trump “will continue to denounce their radicalism and draw a sharp contrast with their common sense, ‘America First’ agenda.” of communism, likening it to a cancer that needs to be removed. “It needs to be excised, and it needs to be done quickly,” he said at a rally on the National Mall in Washington. By portraying Democrats as socialists and communists, Trump resurrected one of the oldest weapons in American politics to attack. political opponents marked an unusual setting for the message. US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters on the day of a Senate Steering Committee luncheon on Capitol Hill REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein Behind the scenes, Trump aides are testing the new message with focus groups, as Republicans prepare for the tougher home stretch heading into the November elections that will decide control of the US Congress. Preliminary findings indicate that the term “communism” may be more effective than “socialism” in some ways. electoral contests, while “socialism” may have broader appeal in paid ads and messages targeted at voting districts, said one of two people familiar with the focus groups. Republicans see the message resonating especially with Hispanic voters in Florida — where anti-socialist appeals have long found favor among voters whose families fled left-wing governments in Latin America — and in Texas A 2025 poll by Gallup found that Americans still viewed socialism as a matter of course. Republican strategist Amy Koch said she doubted the communist label would broaden the party's appeal among younger or independent voters. House Democrat, said in a statement that Republicans were “resorting to desperate attacks that actually have nothing to do with economic issues.”