Donald J.Trump calls Democratic candidates “Communists” in blue state races

predicts worsening conditions for states led by candidates he labels as Communists, as Communist Party USA members hold a handful of local offices nationwide.

WHITE HOUSE — Donald J.Trump attacked candidates in Democratic-leaning states as “Communists” and predicted their leadership would make conditions worse on a Truth Social post on June 23, 2026 at 10:52 PM EST.

Here is the full post (see truthsocial.com): “Many Communists running in badly failing Blue States. The votes seem to have them doing quite well against each other. The bad news is that history has conclusively shown that the downtrodden States that they will soon be running will ONLY GET WORSE. MAGA! President DJT”

Trump did not name specific candidates or states in his post. He offered no evidence to support the claim that Communist-affiliated politicians are gaining ground in statewide or major races. The post appeared to target Democratic-leaning states broadly, using the label “Communists” as a political attack rather than a literal party designation.

The Communist Party USA has seen a small number of its members win local office in recent years, though none hold statewide or federal positions. Hannah Shvets won a seat on the Ithaca Common Council in New York in November 2025, and Daniel Carson won a city council seat in Bangor, Maine, the same month (see newsweek.com). Luisa de Paula Santos was elected to the Cambridge School Committee in Massachusetts that year as well. All three serve in local government roles with limited policy reach.

Shvets, a Cornell University student and labor organizer, defeated a landlord-backed opponent while running on a platform centered on housing affordability and a $25 city minimum wage (see cpusa.org). Carson, a former bank worker, focused his campaign on housing costs and public services, earning endorsements from multiple labor unions. Both candidates drew attention as rare examples of openly Communist-affiliated officeholders in the United States.

The Communist Party USA has existed since 1919 but was largely driven from electoral politics during the Cold War and McCarthyism era (see wikipedia.org). American hostility toward communism dates to the early 20th century and intensified after World War I and during the decades-long standoff with the Soviet Union. Laws such as the Smith Act were used to prosecute party leaders, and government surveillance effectively marginalized the organization for decades.

As of 2026, openly Communist elected officials in the United States number fewer than five, all serving at the municipal or school board level (see newsweek.com). Their policy influence remains confined to city council votes, school committee decisions, and local budget negotiations rather than state or national lawmaking.

Trump has focused heavily on elections as a topic in recent weeks. In the last 30 days, 134 of 652 Trump posts addressed the topic of elections, according to Zenger analysis.

Trump’s post did not identify which specific races or primary contests he was referencing. No statewide Democratic primary in 2026 has featured a candidate running on a Communist Party ballot line, and major Democratic candidates in blue states have not identified as members of the Communist Party USA.

Source: Zenger analysis
Note: Table generated by NewsFindr on June 23, 2026 at 10:57 PM EST

Source: Zenger real-time database of all Truth Social posts.
Note: Chart generated on June 23, 2026 at 10:58 PM EST