Bestselling author Elizabeth Graham, an authority on the Trump-Putin relationship, contends that President Donald Trump's political dishonesty—including bribery, graft, and malfeasance—has pushed the United States into a state of moral decline, even as citizens yearn for truth, justice, and the American way. Graham, who writes a popular Substack at egraham.substack.com, warns that the nation's core values of veracity, verity, and factuality have nearly disappeared under Trump's leadership.
In a recent Substack post titled "Corruption," Graham noted that successful anti-authoritarian movements attack corruption while reclaiming patriotic symbols. She argues that Trump's belief that he is above the law has undermined the legal system's role in maintaining social order and protecting individual rights. A key example she cites is the Epstein Files Transparency Act (Public Law 119-38), enacted November 19, 2025, which required the Department of Justice to release records related to Jeffrey Epstein by December 19, 2025. According to a CBS News report from January 8, 2026, by Scott MacFarlane, attention has shifted to the DOJ's Office of Inspector General amid delays. Graham asserts that Trump has evaded full disclosure through distractions and wars, circumventing justice.
Graham traces America's historical dishonesty to the Declaration of Independence, noting that Thomas Jefferson wrote of equality while owning over 600 slaves. She argues that this foundational lie has set a standard of deceit, and today's leadership is more disoriented than ever. She labels Trump a bigot, pointing to his closure of USAID to stop aid to Africa, which she says could lead to 15 million deaths by 2040, citing a study in The Lancet by DM Cavalcanti. She also criticizes his inhumane treatment of immigrants, rooted in intolerance.
On foreign policy, Graham highlights Trump's failed plea to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop attacks on Lebanon, as reported by MSN and The Daily Beast on June 7, 2026. She contrasts this with Trump's 53 promises to end the war in Ukraine in one day, a claim fact-checked by CNN on April 25, 2025. Graham questions whether Trump comprehends his own statements.
The American Bar Association, in a March 4, 2026, report, detailed how the Trump administration has exchanged government benefits, appointments, pardons, and policy decisions for financial contributions, creating an unprecedented pay-to-play culture. Graham warns that without accountability, this corruption will destroy Americans' faith in democracy, exactly what Vladimir Putin desires.
Graham's book, From Democracy To Democrazy: A Warning To All Americans, available on Amazon and at democrazy2020.org, has received rave reviews. One Amazon reader called it an urgent warning about the Trump-Putin collusion aimed at destroying America. Another praised Graham's insight from her 20 years living under dictatorships. Publisher Clare Harwood noted that Graham draws from lived experience, not theory, making her warnings about Trump's similarities to authoritarian leaders particularly compelling.
