The Betrayal of American Freedom

Summary: A foreign-born billionaire who gave Trump's campaign $288 million is now seizing control of our democratic institutions—not through force, but through systematic dismantling. Will Americans surrender their constitutional freedom to an unelected corporate dictator? Here's how to reframe this attack on American democracy in a way that activates our deepest moral values and spurs immediate action. Freedom is under attack.

A monumental and unprecedented betrayal is currently unfolding in the United States of America. This is not a crisis that can be ignored or delayed, but a dire situation that demands our immediate attention and action. It is not an attack by a military force, but instead a systematic corporate dismantling of our democratic protections.

Donald Trump has sold the country out to Elon Musk, a South Africa-born billionaire who put $288 million into Trump’s campaign and is now trying to destroy our democratic government from the inside. This is a betrayal of American freedom, which is now under the most serious attack our history.

This is an unprecedented emergency. Many are describing it as a “coup” and a “constitutional crisis.” While these terms are technically accurate, we must also frame the crisis in a way that directly activates our fellow Americans on the level of their deepest moral values. We need to remind people of what it means to be an American – and of every citizen’s duty to protect our country and our freedom from those who would destroy it.

Remember: We, the People, hold immense power. Our government is designed to be of, by, and for the people. While the ongoing attack is disheartening and frightening, we must never forget that the future of our democracy rests in our hands. We have numerous tools at our disposal to combat this assault on democracy, and the future of our nation hinges on what we do today. We are already making headway in the courts, and Trump’s poll numbers are slipping as he allows Elon Musk, his billionaire puppetmaster, to dismantle our public institutions. If we stand together and unite in defense of our values, we will prevail.

Time is of the essence. We must remind Americans that what’s happening today is a direct assault on American freedom. Our freedom is not a bargaining chip, but a fundamental right that is being threatened by the actions of unelected billionaires. When they attempt to seize control of our government, they’re not just attacking bureaucracy—they’re assaulting the constitutional freedom that is the birthright of every American.

Here are some ideas for framing this assault on American freedom:

Frame 1: Our Constitutional Freedom vs. Corporate Control

“Our Constitution established government of, by, and for the people—not rule by unaccountable billionaires. When corporate dictators defy our Congress, courts, and constitutional checks, they’re not showing strength—they’re betraying the very freedom our founders fought to secure.”

Moral Core: This frame builds collective ownership of our democratic heritage while activating shared defense of constitutional principles.

Frame 2: Our Public Protections vs. Corporate Takeover

“The public agencies we built together—protecting our food, defending our skies, caring for our veterans—aren’t just ‘bureaucracy.’ They’re the tools we created to protect ourselves and our families. When corporate outsiders dismantle these protections, they’re demanding we surrender our freedom to their greedy and dictatorial whims.”

Moral Core: This reframes public agencies as our shared instruments of self-protection, making the threat personal and immediate.

Frame 3: Our Democratic Freedom vs. CEO Dictatorship

“Real freedom means having a voice in decisions that affect our lives. When corporate dictators replace our experienced public servants with yes-men, block our congressional oversight, and seize control of our government systems, they’re not ‘modernizing’—they’re methodically dismantling our constitutional right to self-governance.”

Moral Core: This builds collective ownership of both the threat and the response, making democracy defense a shared mission.

Some Tactical Responses:

1. “In our America, freedom means we don’t bow to kings OR billionaire CEOs”
2. “Our constitutional freedom includes the right to govern ourselves democratically and lawfully. An attack on our Constitution, our democracy, our government or our laws is an attack on our freedom.”
3. “An attack on the United States Constitution is an attack on American freedom.”
4. “No CEO should have absolute power over our democracy, where power comes from the people.”

Bottom Line: This is an attack on freedom, which is the defining American value.

What You Can Do: Use Your Voice

The Democratic Party has been slow to respond to this attack on American freedom. That’s starting to change, but every American who wishes to protect this country must use their voice to push our elected leaders to fight for our democracy.

Here's something you can do immediately: Contact your elected officials via Five Calls. The site makes it easy for you to communicate your feelings to your elected representatives. Your voice matters! I spent a few years working on Capitol Hill, so I know that senators and representatives pay close attention to what their constituents are saying. Each call is tallied so that legislators know exactly how their constituents feel.

If you haven’t already made your voice heard, please use Five Calls to send a message: Stop Elon Musk’s Betrayal of American Freedom! Click below to take action now:

5 Calls

Spend 5 minutes. Make 5 calls. Make your voice heard.

5 Calls

Sample script: “I'm calling about Elon Musk's systematic dismantling of our constitutional freedoms through the DOGE program. When a foreign billionaire who gave Trump $288 million defies Congress and seizes control of our government agencies it's a betrayal of American freedom. Generations of Americans built these agencies to protect ourselves and our families. I'm asking [Representative/Senator] to take immediate action to defend our constitutional freedom from this corporate takeover. Will you commit to stopping this assault on our democracy? We're counting on you to protect our freedom to maintain a government of, by, and for the people—not surrender it to unelected billionaires. The future of our country is at stake. Please take a stand.”

Remember:

• This particular argument is not about the Democratic Party vs. the Republican Party. It’s about stopping the betrayal of American freedom by an unelected billionaire. Trump is betraying the country and looking very weak as he hands presidential power to Elon Musk. A weakling and a betrayer of trust are two things that violate the image of the “Strict Father.”
• Use the freedom frame to activate progressive values in the minds of swing voters (biconceptuals) who may have voted for Trump but know deep down that Elon Musk's attack on our system of government is dangerous and immoral. Everything happening right now is the exact opposite of how our country is supposed to work. We all know better than to allow our sacred democracy to be destroyed on our watch.
• Freedom is a powerful idea. Polls show it moves voters and resonates with them on the level of their identity. This is a freedom issue. Frame it!

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