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Steve Forbes, Chairman of the business magazine Forbes. / Photo courtesy of UPI, Yonhap News

Fox News reported on July 12 (local time) that Steve Forbes, Chairman of the business magazine Forbes, expressed support for President Donald Trump’s remarks warning that the nation is under threat from communism.

In a recent interview with Fox News at FreedomFest—a large-scale liberal-conservative conference held in Las Vegas, Nevada—Chairman Forbes shared his insights on the U.S. economy, socialist trends in New York City, and the policies of the Trump administration.

Aligning himself with President Trump's remarks, Forbes quoted former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and emphasized, "Communism, socialism, the far-left, and anti-Semitism are all part of the same disease."

During his speech commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota on July 3, President Trump had defined the spreading leftist and socialist trends within the U.S. as a greater threat than foreign adversaries. He stated, "The danger of communism has re-emerged in our land. It is like cancer and must be excised quickly," adding, "American identity is under attack. Communism is the enemy of the Constitution."

"The left is more organized than liberal forces and attempts to claim the moral high ground," Forbes said. "Even if socialism and communism kill millions and destroy lives, they claim their intentions were good. Therefore, free enterprise (capitalism) cannot be justified simply because it brings greater economic prosperity. We must emphasize that it is also morally right."

President Trump defined the expanding leftist and socialist forces and their ideologies within the United States—rather than external enemies—as a 'new danger of communism.'

In particular, he characterized the growing support for progressive and socialist-leaning figures within the Democratic Party, as well as the anti-capitalist ideologies held by some immigrants, as threats to American freedom and identity.

Forbes also echoed this sentiment, asserting, "What destroys America is not external forces, but what we do from within."

He further explained, "Economic prosperity and innovation are only possible where there is freedom," adding, "While capitalism is not perfect, it is a system that has driven inventions and technological advancements that improve human life."

Citing the mobile phone as an example, he noted, "Thirty years ago, people would have thought it strange if you said a grandmother could operate a supercomputer. But now, everyone carries a supercomputer in their hand."

Meanwhile, Forbes has spent decades advocating for American capitalism, free markets, and sound monetary policy. He also ran for the U.S. presidency as a candidate in 1996 and 2000.

                                                                                                           Park Jin-sook