Political pundits don’t always have a great prediction record, especially since the start of the Trump era. But one prediction from the 2024 election appears to have come true, and a lot of people are noticing.
On October 27, 2024, just over one year ago, and on the eve of the 2024 presidential election, the New York Times Sunday Opinion section ran a full front page stating, in call caps, that “DONALD TRUMP SAYS HE WILL PROSECUTE HIS ENEMIES ORDER MASS DEPORTATIONS USE SOLDIERS AGAINST CITIZENS ABANDON ALLIES PLAY POLITICS WITH DISASTERS. BELIEVE HIM.”
This was published one year ago. Everything is right. pic.twitter.com/eMeN6uekBx
— Victor Shi (@Victorshi2020) October 29, 2025
That section was on the front of a Times editorial, advising against Trump’s return to office, complete with links to past Times stories about each thing.
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“You already know Donald Trump. He is unfit to lead. Watch him. Listen to those who know him best. He tried to subvert an election and remains a threat to democracy,” the op-ed said. “He helped overturn Roe, with terrible consequences. Mr. Trump’s corruption and lawlessness go beyond elections: It’s his whole ethos. He lies without limit. If he’s re-elected, the G.O.P. won’t restrain him. Mr. Trump will use the government to go after opponents. He will pursue a cruel policy of mass deportations. He will wreak havoc on the poor, the middle class and employers. Another Trump term will damage the climate, shatter alliances and strengthen autocrats. Americans should demand better. Vote.”
In the year since then, Trump has done almost all of those things, as noted by The Daily Beast.
And we are only 10 months into this Administration. They move fast. They break things. They have no regard for history or norms or laws. They want us to feel overwhelmed and weak, but we can’t submit. We can’t give up. We’ve gotta stay together and sound the alarm constantly.
— Victor Shi (@Victorshi2020) October 29, 2025
Other social media users noticed that the NYT piece was unusually prescient.
Not a single thing here was exaggerated https://t.co/TvSnHzENdG
— Jacob Herbstman (@jacobherbstman) October 29, 2025
But I am a swing state voter who gets all of their news from the Fart Brothers Podcast (because I’m an Independent Thinker Who Doesn’t Trust Mainstream Media) and this is the first time I’m hearing of any of this https://t.co/sF38ibUY1n
— Bald Bernie Sanders (@BaldBernieSndrs) October 30, 2025
Everyone and I mean everyone who voted for Trump the second time knew exactly what they were getting. Masked men abducting people, insane social media rants, prosecutions of his political enemies and general chaos on a daily basis. Fully approved by 77 million Americans. https://t.co/lQNXMHyUv8
— Scott 🇺🇦🇨🇦🇺🇸 (@scottinankeny) October 30, 2025
Photo courtesy of an X screenshot.
