Real-Life Examples of Resistance to Trump’s Fear and Intimidation Tactics

Introduction

Fear and intimidation have emerged as central weapons in the Trump administration’s political arsenal, with the president once stating, “True power is — I hesitate even to say it — fear.” Since regaining office, his administration has employed these tactics against immigrants, political opponents, federal employees, and ordinary citizens.

However, individuals and groups across the country have mounted various forms of resistance against these intimidation strategies. From mass protests to creative acts of noncooperation, these examples demonstrate how Americans are resisting fear-based governance and creating pathways for collective resistance.

Mass Demonstrations and Direct Actions

Many Americans have responded to intimidation by taking to the streets, showing that fear tactics can mobilize rather than paralyze opposition.

The Trump Tower Protests for Mahmoud Khalil

In March 2025, nearly 100 protesters were arrested after a sit-in at Trump Tower in New York City, demanding the release of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist detained by federal immigration agents.

Organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, the demonstration saw hundreds fill the building’s lobby with signs reading “Fight Nazis, not students” and “You can’t deport a movement.”

Protesters strategically hung banners along the golden escalator that Trump rode down when he announced his first presidential campaign in 2015.

One Jewish protester powerfully articulated the historical echoes that motivated her participation: “My grandmother lost her cousins in the Holocaust. I grew up on these stories. We know what happens when authoritarian regimes begin targeting people, abducting them at night, separating their families, and scapegoating them. We’re calling on everyone to speak up today because otherwise, we won’t be able to tomorrow”.

This protest sparked nationwide solidarity actions, with demonstrations planned in New York, Boston, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Miami, and Indianapolis.

The coordinated response demonstrated how intimidation tactics can backfire by creating broader resistance coalitions.

Early Victories Against Fear

Within the first weeks of Trump’s second term, thousands of protesters in cities across 47 states took to the streets, winning what organizers called “an important early victory against fear.”

These initial demonstrations helped shift people from paralysis and worry into action, providing a template for continued resistance.

Strategic Noncooperation and Civil Disobedience

Beyond street protests, some of the most effective resistance strategies have involved noncooperation with unjust policies and orders.

Resistance to Immigration Raids

When ICE raids began sweeping the nation in Trump’s first week back in office, migrant communities responded with prepared resistance strategies. Drawing on decades of experience, some businesses created escape routes through back doors or private areas that ICE agents could not legally enter.

In California, field workers implemented stay-at-home strikes to evade agents, with 75-85% of the workforce not showing up on certain days.

This widespread noncooperation constitutes “one of the boldest, most widespread noncooperation campaigns seen in the United States in a long time.”

The resistance to immigration enforcement demonstrates that communities can develop practical strategies to protect their members even in the face of intimidation.

Creative Disruption of “Snitch Lines”

Early in the administration, the government established hotlines and email systems for reporting violations of Trump’s executive orders, mainly targeting immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and diversity programs.

Rather than succumbing to this climate of fear, citizens responded with mischievous yet effective campaigns to flood these “snitch lines.”

These relatively safe actions helped shift people from worry into action by overwhelming systems designed to target vulnerable populations.

The hiring site for Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) became a popular target, with people submitting crank responses like “the script to ‘The Bee Movie’ or Scrooge McDuck.” These humorous acts of defiance helped embolden further resistance.

Institutional Resistance and Professional Courage

Some of the most consequential resistance has come from individuals within institutions who refused to be intimidated despite significant personal and professional risks.

Standing Firm in the Justice System

When Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office appeared poised to bring criminal charges against Trump, the former president called for protests that many interpreted as an intimidation tactic.

Bragg responded by sending a private message to his staff affirming that “we do not tolerate attempts to intimidate our office or threaten the rule of law in New York.” He added that the office would “continue to apply the law evenly and fairly” despite the pressure.

This example highlights how institutional actors can respond to intimidation by reaffirming their commitment to professional ethics and the rule of law.

The Cost of Principled Opposition

Not all resistance has been successful in immediate terms.

Former district attorney Matt Fogal faced significant personal and professional costs after speaking out against Trump.

After his stance became public, he lost customers at his wife’s business, was denounced by the local Republican Party, and was shunned by many in his community.

When he sought work in the private sector, local law firms told him he was “too hot to handle.”

Fogal’s example illustrates the courage to resist intimidation in politically hostile environments despite these consequences. “I’m quite literally a pariah,” he said. “Things used to be different here”.

Effective Outcomes of Resistance

The collective resistance to Trump’s fear tactics has produced tangible results, demonstrating that organized opposition can successfully resist intimidation.

Policy Reversals Won Through Pressure

Sustained resistance has forced the administration to reverse course on numerous policies. According to organizers, Trump had to “rescind his heavy-handed memo freezing federal funds, back off his original tariffs plan, and settle for minor concessions.”

Additional victories include reinstating some CDC scientists, nuclear safety workers, and EPA employees who had been terminated, as well as restarting legal aid for migrant children held in detention centers.

These concrete wins demonstrate that resistance is not futile—when people combine protests with noncooperation and strategic pressure, they can achieve meaningful results even against seemingly overwhelming opposition.

Strategic Frameworks for Effective Resistance

The most successful resistance efforts have employed a strategic understanding of how fear operates and how to counter it effectively.

Pairing Protest with Noncooperation

While public demonstrations are essential in mobilizing opposition, the most effective resistance has combined visible protest with concrete noncooperation. “What’s making the protests powerful is pairing them with acts of noncooperation and noncompliance—some of the most effective tools in nonviolent struggle.”

This strategic combination recognizes that protests alone “are rarely strong enough to pressure decision-makers into reversing course.”

Still, when coupled with “refusing to comply, disobeying unjust orders, boycotts, strikes, and walkouts,” resistance efforts “have immediate and long-term impacts that raise the costs of maintaining the objectionable policy.”

Building Resilience Against Fear

Mental health experts emphasize the importance of processing emotions rather than suppressing them when facing political intimidation. “You can’t suppress those emotions of fear and despair.

You have to process them,” according to clinical research psychologist Adrienne Heinz. “When you finally accept how you feel and the reality, you can start to focus on what you can change.”

This emotional resilience allows people to move from paralysis to action, transforming fear into constructive resistance.

As one expert noted, emotions like fear “might feel like they’re going to eat you and swallow you whole, but if you can walk through them and come out the other side, you will be more emotionally intelligent.”

Conclusion

The examples of resistance to Trump’s fear tactics illustrate a fundamental insight: while fear can be a powerful political weapon, it is not omnipotent. When people recognize the mechanics of intimidation and refuse to surrender to it, they can effectively counter its power.

From mass protests to strategic noncooperation, from institutional courage to personal sacrifices, Americans are demonstrating various ways to resist fear-based governance.

The most successful resistance combines multiple approaches—visible public protest, strategic noncooperation, institutional defense, and emotional resilience.

These examples suggest that while the challenges are significant, organized and strategic resistance can achieve meaningful results even against seemingly overwhelming intimidation.

As the administration continues deploying fear as a political strategy, these examples of resistance provide practical models and psychological inspiration for those determined to preserve democratic values.

The lesson is clear: fear works only when people surrender to it, and the most effective antidote to intimidation is courage manifested through strategic, collective action.