Robert Reich's Shocking Memoir: How I Predicted Trump's Rise and What Democrats Must Do Now

2025-08-07 00:00:30.006

Robert Reich, born just days before Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, recounts his life witnessing the erosion of the American dream. His grandmother's prediction of his presidency is juxtaposed with the reality of Trump's second term. Reich details his lifelong fight against bullies, from schoolyard toughs to corporate giants, and his deep concern over the widening economic inequality that fueled Trump's rise. He blames both Republicans' trickle-down economics and Democrats' abandonment of the working class for this crisis. Reich argues that the Democratic party's embrace of free trade, deregulation, and big money politics alienated working-class voters, creating the fertile ground for Trump's populist appeal. He criticizes the party for failing to address the core issue of economic inequality, instead focusing on scapegoats. Reich calls for bold action from Democrats: paid family leave, Medicare for all, free college, stronger unions, higher taxes on the wealthy, and a renewed focus on the working class. He concludes with a somber reflection on the failure of his generation to build a just and sustainable society and a plea for urgent action to reverse the alarming trends that led to Trump's reelection.