Bestselling author Elizabeth Graham, an authority on the Trump-Putin relationship, contends that Donald Trump's political dishonesty—including bribery, graft, and malfeasance—has resulted in a state of moral decline in the United States. In her view, while American citizens desire truth, justice, and the American way, the current administration has eroded these foundational principles.
In a recent Substack post titled "Corruption," Graham wrote about how successful anti-authoritarian movements attack corruption and reclaim patriotic symbols. She noted that over the past decade, with Trump as a central presidential figure, values such as veracity, verity, and factuality have nearly disappeared. Graham asserts that Trump believes he is above the law, pointing to delays in releasing records related to the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The law, enacted in November 2025, requires the Department of Justice to release investigative records on Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, but the deadline passed without full disclosure. CBS News reported that attention has shifted to the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General to monitor fraud and abuse.
Graham draws a historical parallel to the Declaration of Independence, noting that Thomas Jefferson wrote about equality while owning over 600 slaves, setting a standard of dishonesty. She argues that today's leadership is more disoriented than ever, calling Trump a bigot who closed USAID to stop aid to Africa, leading to an estimated 15 million deaths by 2040 according to The Lancet. She also criticizes his inhumane treatment of immigrants, contrasting it with America's history as a nation built by immigrants seeking refuge.
Graham highlights a recent incident where Trump's plea to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop attacks on Lebanon was ignored, as reported by MSN and The Daily Beast. She notes that Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine in one day, a claim he made 53 times according to a CNN fact check. She questions whether he comprehends his own statements.
The author cites The American Bar Association, which reported that 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 if reforms are not passed and Trump is not held accountable, this corruption will destroy Americans' faith in democracy, exactly as Vladimir Putin desires.
Graham's book, 'From Democracy To Democrazy: A Warning To All Americans', has received praise from readers who describe it as an urgent warning about the threat Russia poses to America. Clare Harwood, a publisher, noted that Graham draws from lived experience in authoritarian countries, making her insights non-partisan. More information is available at democrazy2020.org.
