Yes, Kevin, Trump is a threat to our Republic and Democracy.

A facebook acquaintance of mine reacted to a post urging unity from Democrats in the primaries and election in order to defeat the most dangerous threat to our democracy in the history of country. The former co-worker, a conservative republican responded and asked for examples of how Trump is a threat to the republic. This was my response.

Kevin, Facebook would not allow me to post my response to your question in the comments sections because it exceeded 8000 words. So I had to make a new post.

For those who did not read Kevin's insightful question, here is a perfect transcript: You (Steve) histrionically claim Trump (sorry if his name triggers you) is a threat to our Democracy and Republic. Please give examples of how? Also a follow up question, you are so smart and handsome, how do you do it? (Okay, I made up that last question).

Great question Kevin, here is my verbose response, with receipts, as the kids say.

All right. First of all my post was written to encourage unity between Democrats, Independents, and rational Republicans who have been disaffected by Trump's blatant cruelty, and shredding of historical political norms. I doubt you fit into one of those categories, but I may be wrong and if you Identify with one of these groups, welcome to the fight.

As to what Trump (the name does trigger most sane people who have witnessed his actions over the last three years but not in the flippant way you use it here as a means to delegitimize accurate criticism of Donnie and imply weakness on those who are legitimately concerned and afraid) here is a long list:

Personally financially profiting from the presidency: Trumps companies have raked in millions of taxpayer dollars with no accountability or oversight. The treasury department and Secret Service are refused to abide by legally required reporting to hide how much Trump is costing and profiting from US taxpayers.

https://www.citizensforethics.org/2000-trump-conflicts-of-interest-counting/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/secret-service-has-paid-rates-as-high-as-650-a-night-for-rooms-at-trumps-properties/2020/02/06/7f27a7c6-3ec5-11ea-8872-5df698785a4e_story.html

Nepotism: The entire Trump family (with the exception of poor Tiffany) have been granted wide ranging politically powers including, but not limited to: attending government meetings at home and abroad, seeking and receiving foreign government favors for their personal, for profit, business entities and directing US policy on a range of topics and issues, for which they are wholly unqualified or cleared (see Jared, Ivanka, Don Jr., Eric). US taxpayers are footing the bill for the entire extended family's travel and protection. The presidents political sycophants supporter's families are also the recipients of nepotism benefits (see Giulian, Barr, et al). Republicans would scream and hold endless congressional investigations if a Democrat did this, and rightfully so.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/meet-the-trump-officials-making-government-a-family-business

Secret and unaccountable to anyone: Trump has expanded the power of the office of president to previously unheard of levels. He uses executive privilege and executive orders to override laws and the oversight of co-equal branches of government for personal, political, and financial benefit. You may say, "Great, the president was elected by the people to break up the log jam of Washington politics." But how will you feel when another political party is returned to power and does the same thing? Trump has radically expanded the idea of an all powerful, unaccountable executive branch and has abused the powers of the office increasingly since day one. Trump has set dangerous precedents which can be used by successive presidents, and probably will to some extent.

Vendettas and payback: Trump has had the highest turnover of cabinet members and secretaries of any president in history. He fires people like he is still on The Apprentice. There has also been a winnowing down of career government experts in the fields of national security and diplomacy. Many have quit in frustration or protest but some have been fired by Trump because he believed conspiracy theories about them or they simply disagreed with him on one of his many spontaneous and ill advised spur of the moment policy changes.

Directly interfering with the Justice Department, FBI, and military court system: Trump has routinely and robustly violated precedent and, possibly the law, by meddling in investigations, overturning judicial decisions, and using the pardon power to grant clemency as political rewards. There is supposed to be a separation between the president and the justice department. Trump has used his attorney general as his personal attorney. He has used the bully pulpit of the presidency to publicly demand (and sometimes received) firings and demotions of people within the government and military who either truthfully testified about his corruption or investigated complaints of illegal acts.

Lies: All politicians shade the truth to benefit them but no politician in US history has made as many blatant, provably false statements as Trump. He lies routinely and robustly. He never admits to being wrong. He makes false statements in every press conference, in every rally, every time he opens his mouth. Remember how mad you guys got when President Obama said, "If you like your doctor you can keep your doctor." Imagine that times x 16,000 (and counting).

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/16/president-trump-has-made-false-or-misleading-claims-over-days/

You asked, "Would the country be better to elect an avowed Democratic Socialist who, in his 40s, still praised Communist Cuba and the Soviet Union?" My answer is, unequivocally yes. The country would be better off electing a man who made positive statements (you did not provide a source and I have not confirmed this allegation you make against Bernie Sanders) about aspects of Cuba and Russia nearly four decades ago as opposed to one who kowtows and defers to russian president/dictator/former spy Vladimir Putin RIGHT NOW.

Trump also robustly praises authoritarians, dictators, and homicidal leaders of countries like North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the Philippines, and China. He publicly muses and appears to want the powers of Putin to silence the press (Putin has a long history of jailing and killing his political opponents and members of the press who report on his illegal activities, as does the person Trump shares "love" letters with, Kim Jong Un).
While praising and siding with dictators, Trump has gleefully alienated and excoriated US allies who have stood by our side for decades. Here is a list of some of our allies Trump has attacked:

Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, The United Kingdom.

https://thehill.com/policy/international/458455-here-are-the-us-allies-that-have-been-in-trumps-crosshairs

Spending: Remember the Tea Party? Patriotic Americans who were so upset at the thought of continuing and increasing federal deficit spending and national debt, that they mounted their trusty steeds (buses) across the country and with their tricorn hats adorned with tea bags, loudly protested President Obama for not reigning in government spending and shouted down their representatives in town halls. Remember Republican members of Congress shutting down the government because of unbalanced budgets?

Obama inherited a recession and two wars. Budget deficits actually decreased in the eight years Obama was president but have now skyrocketed under President Trump. Trillion dollar deficits are the norm now, exacerbated by the huge tax cuts for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations pushed through congress by Trump...and nary a peep from the Tea Party patriots in parking lots or Congress. Where are the teabaggers when you really need them?

Trump promised to eliminate the national debt in 8 years, instead he has increased it dramatically and unapologetically. Rapidly increasing debt is unsustainable and represent a direct fiscal threat to our Republic and Democracy and is another example of the blaring hypocrisy of Republicans and fiscal conservatives when it comes to this president.

https://theweek.com/articles/889337/paradox-trumps-trilliondollar-deficit

There are many more things Trump has done and a multitude of ways in which he has subverted and bastardized the massive powers of the president for his own personal gain, but I have run out of time and I doubt most people will read this missive.
You are a smart guy, Kevin. You are politically astute and knowledgeable. You have to see what Trump has done to shred political tradition and norms. You have to be concerned by a president of any party who uses the power of that office for personal financial gain and bludgeons perceived enemies with vulgar tweets and retaliation by our formerly non-partisan divisions of the judicial branch. We should all be concerned about a leader who not only encourages and accepts foreign interference in our democratic elections but also demands and now extorts it.

Finally, Trump and his acolytes use the word "triggered" as an insult to undercut valid criticism and justifiable alarm about the abhorrent behavior exhibited daily by, arguably, the most powerful man in the world. Triggered defined is: causing an intense and usually negative emotional reaction. Do Trump's narcissism, pathological lies and daily assaults on our Constitution, norms, allies, and traditions cause me and the majority of patriotic Americans to have intense negative reactions? Yes.

The question and criticism shouldn't be why are we triggered, but, why aren't you?