Human Rights Watch warned in its latest annual report that U.S. President Donald Trump has attacked essential pillars of American democracy, citing a range of policies and rhetoric that the organization views as undermining checks and balances. The report, and comments by Human Rights Watch Executive Director Philippe Bolopion, portray a broad decline in democratic quality both within the United States and internationally.
Bolopion said that, by several measures, global democracy has rolled back to conditions last seen in 1985. He pointed to Russia, China and the United States as countries that are "less free than 20 years ago," and said that 72% of the world's population now lives under autocracy, according to metrics highlighted in the report.
Addressing reporters, Bolopion was direct about the U.S. situation: "It’s actually incredible to see how the Trump administration has really undermined all the pillars of U.S. democracy, all the checks and balances on power," he said. He described what he called a "very hostile environment in the U.S. and a very rapid decline of ... the quality of democracy in this country."
The report catalogs several elements of the administration's domestic agenda that Human Rights Watch says have contributed to this decline. Central among these, the organization cited an aggressive immigration enforcement program that it characterized as including degrading treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers. The report raises specific concerns about incidents and policies that it says demonstrate harsh treatment and systemic problems in the administration's immigration priorities.
Human Rights Watch criticized the use of masked immigration officers, often outfitted in tactical, military-style gear, which the group says have become a visible presence across U.S. cities and have triggered protests in multiple locations. The report also notes that the administration has deported hundreds of migrants to a large detention facility in El Salvador described in the report as a mega-prison known for severe conditions.
Bolopion also charged the administration with having "leaned on racist tropes" and with adopting rhetoric and policies that, in his view, align with white nationalist ideology. The report cites the killing of two people in Minneapolis as part of the broader pattern of concern over the government's approach to migrants and minority communities.
Human Rights Watch also turned to international matters, criticizing what it described as risky decisions with potential human rights consequences abroad. The report highlights a controversial move in which the administration transferred authority over Venezuela to President Nicolas Maduro's deputy following a capture, a decision that Bolopion said could risk "a new human rights disaster." The report also criticised strikes on suspected drug boats as part of the administration's enforcement actions.
On the wider geopolitical stage, Human Rights Watch said the United States has downplayed serious human rights violations by Russia in Ukraine, done little to prevent atrocities in Sudan, and failed to exert pressure on the Israeli government over alleged crimes in Gaza. The report reiterates Human Rights Watch's previous accusation that Israel has committed genocide and extermination in Gaza; Israel has repeatedly rejected any accusation of genocide.
Separately, the report describes ongoing, systematic human rights restrictions by Chinese authorities, including limits on freedom of expression and freedom of religion, while noting that Russia has intensified a crackdown on dissent and civil society.
Looking ahead, Bolopion warned that in 2026 "the fight for the future of human rights will play out most sharply in the U.S., with consequences for the rest of the world." He said many Western allies have chosen silence regarding U.S. actions because they fear increased tariffs and weakening alliances. Bolopion called for "a strong global alliance of countries promoting human rights and the rules-based world order."
Sources and comment
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Human Rights Watch report. A spokesperson for the administration recently defended the president's immigration policies, saying the measures sought to make communities safer by removing "dangerous criminal aliens," and noting that the hardline immigration agenda was a prominent campaign issue that helped win the 2024 election.