Fukuyama warns that American right has abandoned liberal democracy for chaotic populism

Francis Fukuyama discussed the transformation of the U.S. right, saying it has turned its back on liberal democratic capitalism and now pursues a heroic, anti-bureaucratic agenda typified by Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. He condemned West-Coast Straussian thinkers such as Michael Anton and Patrick Deneen for embracing ethnonationalist rhetoric, arguing they have strayed from classical liberalism. Fukuyama traced the right’s turn to “Trumpism” to a blend of American nationalism, opportunistic attachment to Trump’s popularity, and a failure to articulate a coherent philosophy.

He also examined why the Democratic Party lost its working-class base, citing trade policies, cultural disconnect, and the rise of identity-based factions, and suggested a need for stronger economic-focused leadership. Finally, he warned that the expansion of executive power under Trump could become a norm, urging future leaders to respect checks and balances and the apolitical civil service.