In a provocative new column published Wednesday, conservative outlet American Thinker argues that the Democratic Party’s embrace of socialism marks the final stage of what it calls “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” with Democrats allegedly willing to destroy America to defeat former President Donald Trump.
Writer Peter Merkl’s piece, titled “The Democrats have end-stage TDS,” asserts that the party’s recent policy shifts and alliances—particularly with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)—reveal a deeper anti-American agenda. The column has sparked debate across social media, drawing both agreement and sharp criticism.
The ‘last scheme’
Merkl opens with a rhetorical joke about socialism, dismissing it as a failed ideology that “everyone knows” doesn’t work. He claims that even left-leaning voters—whom he describes as “blue-haired Democrats” and “overeducated, DoorDash DSA-ers”—understand socialism would harm the country, but that their “deranged hatred” of Trump overrides that concern.
Using an extended Wile E. Coyote metaphor, Merkl likens Democrats to the cartoon antagonist who, after exhausting every trick in ACME’s catalog, resorts to a “Doomsday Machine” to obliterate his nemesis—in this case, socialism. According to Merkl, the party has tried various tactics against Trump: accusing him of being a Russian agent, attempting to impeach him, pursuing legal actions, and allegedly supporting assassination attempts. “But, like the Roadrunner, Trump thrives,” he writes, driving Democrats to “madness.”
The DSA connection
A central claim in the column is the rising influence of the DSA within the Democratic Party. Merkl cites statistics suggesting that “about a third of Democrats now identify as Democratic Socialists” and that “almost 60% view socialism positively.” He also points to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ decision to formally include the DSA in the party’s “broad caucus.”
Merkl singles out Hasan Piker, a progressive streamer and DSA member, whose message to party leadership is, in his words, “Stop lying.” The column suggests that Piker’s call for honesty represents a pivotal moment, freeing Democrats to openly advocate for extreme positions.
“The truth is that the Democrat party despises America and wants to destroy it by turning it into a socialist hellscape,” Merkl writes, attributing this to a purported “newfound candor” among party members.
Trump-era accusations
The column repeats a series of unsubstantiated claims, including the assertion that “people on the Democrats’ side of the aisle have tried to assassinate him again, and again, and again”—a charge that has not been proven in any legal or official capacity. It also references outdated controversies, such as Trump’s 2017 remarks about neo-Nazis, which have been widely discussed but remain a matter of interpretation.
Merkl alleges that Democrats now advocate for abolishing borders, ICE, prisons, the Pentagon, private property, the Senate, the Supreme Court, and the Electoral College—a list that, while sensational, does not appear in any official Democratic Party platform.
Freedom on the ballot?
The column concludes with a warning that “our democratic freedoms can’t coexist with socialism,” and that Democrats’ embrace of socialism places “our freedoms squarely on the ballot in the midterms and beyond.” Merkl urges readers to consider whether they are willing to “surrender” those freedoms.
Reaction to the piece has been swift. Conservative commentators have largely echoed Merkl’s sentiments, while progressive voices dismiss it as hyperbolic and divisive. The column reflects a broader trend in right-wing media of framing the Democratic Party’s ideological shifts as existential threats.
As the midterm elections approach, such rhetoric is likely to intensify. Whether the “end-stage TDS” framing gains traction remains to be seen, but the column has certainly fueled the ongoing debate over the future of American politics.
Source: www.americanthinker.com — https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/08/the-democrats-have-end-stage-tds/