Defining a Constitutional Republic The United States operates as a constitutional republic, a form of government that involves representatives elected by the people, who execute their duties under the constraints of a prevailing constitution that specifies the powers and limits of government...
www.usconstitution.net
A republic is when the people who live in the country hold the power. However, in the US, elected representatives are chosen to exercise power.
constitutionus.com
To sum it up, a republic could be considered a “
representative democracy” when individual citizens are not directly exercising legislative authority by voting on laws but delegating that task to the people who win elections.
We are a Republic first . Could be considered means you could say that but Republic is more accurate.
Representative Democracy
As noted previously, a republic could be considered a “representative democracy.”
When people say that the United States is “not a democracy but a republic,” this is a half-truth.
The United States is not a direct democracy where everyone votes on specific legislation. Still, any system wherein people cast their votes for members of government is ultimately “democratic” in nature.
Maybe you shouldn't be so quick to criticize him?