The political rhetoric surrounding the U.S. republic versus democracy debate is contradictory, as some individuals cite the popular vote to defend authoritarian actions while previously dismissing dem

“as soon as Trump won the popular vote, every time Trump does something I would argue is authoritarian, people are like, "Well, he won the popular vote, so he has the will of the people behind him."”

Populism and authoritarianism are closely linked because populism seeks to bypass the mediating institutions of liberal democracy, which often leads to the rule of a strongman.

“populism and authoritarianism are very closely tied because if populism is the rule of the people unmediated by these structures that constrain, you know, the bulk, the majority, it very soon lapses into strongman politics.”