I was stunned listening to President Biden’s speech last night. As an immigrant from the former USSR, I found the speech frightening. I’ve heard such speeches many times before. Biden sounded more like a Soviet authoritarian than the President of United States. Stalin could have made that speech.

Biden’s rant, targeting ex-POTUS Trump’s and MAGA Republicans reminded me of Vladimir Putin’s recent speech at a patriotic rally. In it, Putin called for a self-cleansing of Russia and the need to get rid of the “traitors.” The traitors were those Russians who criticized Putin’s war on Ukraine.

Both Biden and Putin both vilified their own countrymen who disagree with their ideology, pitting one group of people against the rest. Putin called his critics pro-western scum, the “fifth column.” Biden called MAGA Republicans extremists who present a threat to democracy.

In Russia, “extremist activity” includes “crimes” such as “diminishing national dignity” and “publicly expressing slander or false accusation of persons who hold Russian government positions.” Russian federal law, “On Countering Extreme Activity,” which Putin approved in 2022, authorizes targeted assassinations for “extremist activities.”

When I immigrated to America, I felt free to express my views on anything because it was a country where plurality of opinions was the norm and freedom of speech was a given. Today, as a conservative, I often look over my shoulder to see who is listening, before I share any views that don’t fall in line with the party line and Washington “groupthink,” just like back in the USSR. It is my hope and a dream that America remains the country of freedom and liberty. But Biden’s speech yesterday indicated to me that we might be just a few short steps away from being ruled by a totalitarian regime.