WASHINGTON — A second term for Donald J. Trump as president poses significant dangers to human rights both in the United States and worldwide, Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned on Wednesday.
HRW highlighted Trump’s first-term record, his alignment with white supremacist ideologies, anti-democratic policy proposals, and campaign pledges to deport millions of immigrants and punish political adversaries.
“Donald Trump has made no secret of his intent to violate the human rights of millions of people in the United States,” said Tirana Hassan, HRW’s executive director. “Independent institutions and civil society, including Human Rights Watch, will need to do everything in their power to hold him and his administration accountable.”
During Trump’s 2017-2021 term, HRW documented rights abuses that included policies expelling asylum seekers, separating families at the border, and promoting policies disproportionately harmful to communities of color and low-income families. Trump’s campaign rhetoric has only heightened concern over a potential second term, with his statements praising autocrats like Viktor Orban, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as well as his vow to weaken democratic institutions. His comment in 2023, saying he would avoid being a “dictator—except for day one,” has further alarmed rights advocates.
Project 2025, a policy blueprint developed by Trump’s former advisors, outlines proposals that would significantly alter immigration policy, weaken democratic checks and balances, and advance racially discriminatory policies. Though Trump has distanced himself from the document, many of his statements echo its principles, signaling support for mass deportations, detention of migrants, and other extreme measures.
Trump’s policies targeting immigrants have included calls for sweeping detentions and deportations, raising concerns over racial profiling and law enforcement abuses. His campaign rhetoric, shared by running mate J.D. Vance, has also amplified xenophobic narratives, particularly targeting Haitian migrants and falsely linking immigration to crime.
Abortion rights, already a divisive issue, would likely face even greater restrictions in a second Trump term. Trump’s support for state authority over health care access could enable policies that endanger lives and criminalize personal health decisions, HRW warned.
The organization further noted Trump’s repeated threats to use government agencies to prosecute political opponents, including President Joe Biden and election officials, labeling them “enemies from within.” His suggestion to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy military forces against protesters has also sparked concerns about potential abuses of executive power.
In foreign policy, HRW expressed alarm over Trump’s disregard for multilateral institutions and international treaties. His administration previously rolled back support for women’s rights and environmental initiatives at the United Nations, often undermining global efforts to protect human rights. HRW anticipates that a second Trump administration may align more closely with authoritarian governments, weakening global human rights protections.
“Rights-respecting institutions and officials need to hold the line during a second Trump administration,” Hassan said. “World leaders, federal and state workers, activists, and citizens alike must play their part in defending human rights and preventing the abuses Trump has vowed to pursue.”
