Here we are: continuing to live through this never-ending national nightmare. After being acquitted by the Republican-controller Senate, Trump has been become more emboldened than ever before. He’s an existential threat to American democracy.

Trump thumps his chest and sneers at his enemies. He publicly shames any person or organization that opposes him. Most of the targets of his aggression are Democratic members of Congress. These members were duly elected by the people to represent their interests. Therefore, he’s usurping the will of the people by refusing to respect and work with the majority of Congress. This isn’t the democratic republic that has stood since the late 18th century.

During the impeachment trial, those opposed to removal reasoned that an election was near and therefore the people should be the ones to vote Trump out of office. This argument was always weak since election interference was the very basis for impeachment.

The Russians are targeting our electoral process again by engaging in cyber warfare, which Trump continues to deny. He knows the Russians are working to his advantage, and since he’s a man without a code, it’s in his interest to let them continue. This is also why Mitch McConnell has refused to even bring the election security bills passed by the House to the Senate floor for a vote. McConnell knows Russian interference will help Republicans and hurt Democrats. And therefore he turns a blind eye to the hostile actions of a foreign adversary in order to hold onto power.

Trump represents his own interests and provides his supporters with the pretense of supporting theirs. A president who doesn’t protect and defend the interests of all Americans is no president at all. He’s president in name only. He’s a rogue, authoritative figure who has hijacked our very way of life —the democratic system that gave birth to this society.

The founders fought a long and bloody war to break free of the monarchical shackles of the British Empire. Since then, we’ve sent men into wars with hostile powers that threatened our democratic way of life. Millions of lives have been sacrificed to protect and defend our democratic way of life. The widows and orphans of the fallen found some solace in the notion that their loved ones did not die in vain. All of that sacrifice is now on the line as Trump and his minions continue to break down the institutions that hold our democracy together.

With Trump’s acquittal, his hostile takeover of the Republican Party is now complete. Their political fate is now bound together. If a political party is unwilling to put the country’s interests over their party’s interests, there can be no liberty and justice for all. The Republican Party is now the MAGA Party and the MAGA Party is Trump.

The Republicans, with the exception of Mitt Romney, have lost all moral authority. The only chance to save this democracy is for an overwhelming number of Americans to cast their votes for Democrats in all 2020 electoral races. If the 2020 presidential election is close, Trump is more than likely to claim the election was rigged, as he did in 2016 when he was unsure of the outcome. Can any reasonable person who follows current events possibly think there will be a peaceful transfer of power? The fact this question even needs to be raised is an indication that our democracy is on the brink of collapse. Let us see that government of the people, by the people, and for the people will not perish from the earth.