US ex-ambassadors warn of slide into authoritarianism amid ‘climate of fear’

The US is drawing parallels between President Trump's early days and autocratic regimes, as former ambassadors highlighted the similarity in political climate, fear tactics, and erosion of democracy. They criticized Trump for creating a "climate of fear" and attacking press freedom, with examples from cases involving colleagues denouncing him or an arson attack on a governor’s residence. They also warned against internal threats to democracy, drawing comparisons to Russia under Putin, and recommended taking bold action to address the crisis rather than playing minimax politics.