This newsletter is primarily intended for my Socialist comrades outside the United States, especially as the French Socialist Party prepares to hold its Congress in June 2025. At this moment, the eyes of the global Socialist movement are turning toward France—even as much of the world's attention remains fixed on the United States.
The Progressive Alliance recently held its conference in Hyderabad, India, hosted by our comrades from the Indian National Congress. They extended an invitation to members of the Progressive International—an alliance whose political approach is well known to many of us in the United States, just as our French comrades have come to know it through their experiences with Jean-Luc Mélenchon and France Unbowed since 2006, and as our comrades in the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party experienced in their dealings with Pablo Iglesias and Podemos beginning in 2014.
For us, the relationship has been similarly complex since our break from DSA in 2017. I urge Socialists around the world to read George Fish’s statement on the Social Democrats of America:
This principle applies equally to the Progressive International and to the Socialist International/Progressive Alliance.
Turning to the situation in the United States: Donald Trump remains a bully, and unfortunately, many Social Democrats lack the courage, inclination, or resources to confront a bully like him—or the systemic power of the United States itself. But that is exactly what must be done.
As Socialists, we must unite to expose and challenge the lies he continues to spread. Let’s be clear: the United States is already a Socialist country—if your skin color is white.
It is the duty of every Socialist in a position of leadership—whether in a small village on the African continent or among the diaspora in the United States—to mobilize and organize against the rise of fascism.
To the many Socialists in the U.S. who hold dual citizenship and, through their American nationality, have access to the highest levels of power in their second country, my message is simple: step up or step down.
We all have a responsibility across the United States to push back against Donald Trump’s false narrative that equates Socialism with Communism.
If you are a Socialist leader and a member of the Socialist International or the Progressive Alliance visiting the United States, I expect you to have the courage to declare proudly to Donald Trump—and to all Americans—that you are a Socialist.
It is the responsibility of every Socialist leader around the world to educate him and his operatives—whether at the White House, at the United Nations, or even when he visits your home. Silence in the face of misinformation is complicity.
When Juan Guaidó met with Donald Trump, he lacked the courage to say that he was Vice President of the Socialist International. We are all paying the price for that silence today.
Any party leader operating in the United States who works against American Socialists will be publicly called out. Confronting right-wing policies in this country requires many people—and even more courage—to stand up and take risks.
If you are a dual citizen and a leader in a party affiliated with the Socialist International or the Progressive Alliance—and you are either a U.S. citizen or reside in the United States—I ask that at your next party congress, you step back from leadership roles unless you are truly ready to confront fascism here in the United States.
I am done being the only one consistently explaining that the “Democrats” of Europe, Israel, or Africa are not the same as the Democratic Party of the United States.
The Democratic Party in the United States is a coalition that stretches from Anarchists to Conservatives. This reality is reflected in the bylaws of the Sugar Hill Democratic Club in New York City, which explicitly welcomes this diversity of thought.
For years, I have listened to people around the world advising me not to use the term Socialism in the U.S. context, claiming it is counterproductive. But let me be clear: anyone who tells me to rename our movement must understand that this is not the time to retreat. This is the time to educate.
As an organization that trains candidates in the principles of Socialism—and in the complex realities of gaining ballot access in New York City municipal elections—we are deeply engaged in the practical work of building Socialist power on the ground.
While Jean-Luc Mélenchon visited New York and the Progressive Alliance convened in Hyderabad, I remained here, focused on supporting SDA candidates running for office across New York City. Mélenchon’s defiance is admirable—but his methods are flawed.Let me be clear: if you are not prepared to risk prison like our comrade Termilan Sultanbekov, Vice President of the Socialist International and leader of the Social Democrats of Kyrgyzstan, then you are not the kind of Socialist leader we need today.
Socialist leadership is not symbolic. It requires sacrifice, courage, and an unwavering commitment to fighting fascism, no matter the personal cost.
Let me be clear: if you are not prepared to risk prison like our comrade Termilan Sultanbekov, Vice President of the Socialist International and leader of the Social Democrats of Kyrgyzstan, then you are not the kind of Socialist leader we need today.
Socialist leadership is not symbolic. It requires sacrifice, courage, and an unwavering commitment to fighting fascism, no matter the personal cost.
To the leaders of the international Socialist movement: if you truly want to help, urge Secretary-General António Guterres to organize a United Nations Gala that brings together the more than 1,000 Democratic and Republican County Committee members of New York City.
Since 2023, I have been working to organize support for a Socialist candidate for President of the United States. I’ve been engaging activists one by one, explaining the importance of working within the Democratic Party to achieve lasting change.
Unfortunately, Team AOC has refused to meet with us. I know exactly who they are—they are the same DSA-aligned individuals tied to the Progressive International. It’s a political dynamic I’ve been confronting since our break with DSA in 2017.
These two articles may be helpful when engaging with comrades who are misinformed or hesitant—trying not to alienate them:
Back Online: Offers guidance on how to gently but firmly confront ignorance within our ranks without creating unnecessary conflict. aoc2028.substack.com/p/back-online.
We Need to Meet Linda Where She Is: Explains why Socialists must organize within the Democratic Party to win real power and make lasting change. aoc2028.substack.com/p/we-need-to-meet-linda-where-she-is.
I want every reader to understand that in New York, simply getting on the ballot is a major achievement in itself.
The American ballot access system resembles that of Switzerland—we must gather thousands of signatures just to qualify. Our comrade, Paperboy Love Prince, succeeded. I did not. That alone speaks to the challenge we face.
Many liberals within the Democratic Party are outraged that we manage to secure spots on the ballot—but we do. Despite having a small team, we’ve studied, learned, and refined the system to put as many Socialists as possible on the ballot.
We have the technology. We have the training. We have the documentation. What we lack are Socialists willing to step up.
Because we did not yet have enough Socialists to organize a full Socialist Festival, the six of us have decided to adopt the European Socialist Manifesto, approved in Rome last year, as the official Socialist Manifesto for the United States.
No matter where you are in the world—if you're feeling the consequences of U.S. policy—you must begin organizing the resistance for the 21st century. And right now, that resistance begins at the ballot box, where we must convince every voter that we are not clowns, and that our platform is the only one capable of saving the planet.
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In solidarity,
Hasta la victoria, ¡siempre!
Theo