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Donald Trump will be the next president of the United States – and this poses a grave threat to human rights in the US and around the world.
To look ahead, it’s first worth looking back at the documented abuses under Trump’s first term as president, from 2017 to 2021.
These included policies and efforts to expel asylum seekers and separate families at the US-Mexico border. There were policies aimed at punishing low-income families and deprive them of health care. Trump personally pushed racist tropes against Black communities and other people of color.
And, who can forget, Trump fueled a violent assault on the US Capitol to overthrow the results of the 2020 election.
Trump’s promises during his 2024 campaign are also enormous cause for alarm, both inside and outside the US.
Trump has repeatedly praised authoritarian leaders such as Viktor Orbán, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un.
But it’s more than just a general bent toward autocracy. Trump has proposed specific policies that would weaken democratic institutions in the US that protect fundamental human rights.
Trump has openly vowed to retaliate against his political opponents, using the Justice Department. Throughout speeches and campaign interviews, he has used increasingly dangerous rhetoric, referring to his critics as “the enemy from within.” He suggested he would deploy the US military and national guard against people who exercise their right to protest.
Project 2025, a governing plan written by Trump’s former advisers and political allies, details many other abusive and often racist policies the new administration may adopt.
Trump made scapegoating immigrants a central pillar of his campaign. He has called for extreme anti-immigrant policies, including mass detention and mass deportations of millions of people. This would tear apart families with deep roots in the US.
Abortion rights will also be under increased threat during Trump’s second term. We’ll likely see policies that violate rights, endanger health, lead to preventable deaths, and criminalize private healthcare decisions.
As for foreign policy, during his first term Trump demonstrated little respect for treaties, multilateral institutions, or efforts to protect the human rights of people living under repressive governments. Trump has signaled opposition to funding for humanitarian aid and civilian protection efforts in major conflicts and crises.
People facing atrocities in expanding conflicts in the Middle East, eastern Europe, the Horn of Africa, and elsewhere are unlikely to see much support from Washington over the next few years.
Overall, the future for human rights looks grim. Make no mistake, things weren’t going great before, but today, the potential for things to get much worse seems significantly higher.
But before you get too depressed, realize this is also a call to action – for all of us. HRW will redouble our efforts as part of a broad movement to fight against abuses and for accountability whenever and wherever they occur.
As Human Rights Watch’s executive director Tirana Hassan said this morning in response to the election results: “Donald Trump has made no secret of his intent to violate the human rights of millions of people in the United States.”
“Rights-respecting institutions and officials need to hold the line during the Trump administration. World leaders, federal and state workers, activists, and ordinary citizens have a role to play in protecting human rights and keeping Trump from carrying out the abuses he has promised.”
