Dr. Ben Carson to Newsmax: Normalising communism is treasonous- ‘This is crunch time’

Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson issued a stark warning Monday, telling Newsmax that he sees a dangerous rise of communist ideology in the United States and that Americans must “wake up” before it is too late.

“We have a real issue on our hands right now, and people have to wake up. This is crunch time,” Carson said during an appearance on Newsmax.

The retired neurosurgeon and 2024 presidential candidate did not mince words, going so far as to label the normalization of communist ideas as “treasonous”. He argued that many Americans fail to recognize the gradual erosion of foundational principles, warning that ideological shifts in education, healthcare, and government overreach are paving the way for a system fundamentally at odds with the nation’s capitalist and Judeo-Christian heritage.

A Pattern of Warnings

Carson’s latest remarks follow a series of interviews in which he has sounded alarms about socialist and Marxist influences. Earlier this month, he discussed a New York Times article detailing the demographics of Democratic socialists, warning about what he called “socialist indoctrination” in America. He has also argued that many students are being taught a distorted version of American history that focuses primarily on the country’s failures, including slavery and treatment of Native Americans, while neglecting its achievements.

Carson has long connected the dots between government-controlled healthcare and socialist ideology. “Whoever controls your healthcare controls you,” he has previously said, adding, “That’s why Marxists say the beginning point of socialism is socialized medicine”.

‘People Need to Study History’

The former HUD secretary urged Americans to educate themselves on the historical consequences of communist and socialist regimes. He has repeatedly emphasized that understanding what communism entails—and its potential impacts—is essential to safeguarding the nation’s future.

“You cannot fight what you refuse to see,” Carson said in a recent interview.

Reactions and Context

Carson’s remarks have drawn both praise and pushback. Supporters applaud his willingness to name what they see as a growing threat, while critics argue his language is overheated and conflates progressive policies with authoritarian ideologies.

The interview comes amid heightened political tensions ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with debates over education, healthcare, and the role of government taking center stage. For Carson, the message is clear: complacency is no longer an option.