In his initial weeks of taking office, President Donald Trump has initiated a sweeping revamp of the federal landscape, challenging established institutions in a bid to consolidate his authority. His actions include pardoning individuals involved in the Capitol incident aimed at overturning the 2020 election results, installing loyalists within the FBI and the military, and orchestrating a purge within the Department of Justice, which has since dropped investigations into Trump associates.
Trump has asserted control over independent agencies like the Federal Elections Commission, retaliated against unfavorable media coverage, and his allies have intimated that he might ignore court rulings. International democracy experts had previously cautioned that a Trump second term could threaten America’s democratic fabric. His early actions in office have only intensified these fears.
“Trump is deploying classic authoritarian strategies,” observes Brendan Nyhan from Dartmouth College, who, along with over 800 political scientists, signed a letter expressing concerns about Trump’s undermining of legal and constitutional checks. Nyhan notes parallels between Trump’s strategies and those of leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orban. Those experienced with authoritarian regimes express alarm at the developments in the U.S.
“I feel like I’m reliving the same scenario,” shared Maria Ressa, a Nobel Prize-winning journalist, reflecting on Trump’s impact on democracy. “This is a process of gradual erosion — think of it as political weakening that eventually leads to the collapse of the governing body.”
Trump has embraced a strongman persona, declaring, “we are the federal law,” and quoting Napolean Bonaparte, “He who saves his country does not violate any law.” An image posted by the official White House account features a crowned Trump with the caption “LONG LIVE THE KING.”
Supporters argue that Trump seeks to rejuvenate American democracy by catering to voter demands for a robust president. However, his power expansiveness is under scrutiny. Courts have halted several of his executive orders targeting agencies established by Congress and the children of undocumented immigrants.
In his campaign, Trump pledged to dismantle what he called a corrupt bureaucracy, blaming it for past government failures. As he assumed office, he vowed to “restore public faith, wealth, democracy, and freedom.” Collaborating with Elon Musk to streamline federal operations, Trump views such reforms as essential to fulfilling voter expectations. Musk noted that ongoing legal challenges against reforms highlight democracy’s workings.
Critics argue that Musk’s perspective is incomplete. “Ballot box power is not limitless. That’s democracy’s fundamental principle,” noted Kevin Casas-Zamora, leader of International IDEA, a democracy-advocacy group.
Internationally, Trump’s administration has stirred distress among European allies over U.S. commitments to NATO and its stance on the Ukraine conflict, tilting towards Russia. Trump’s recent confrontation with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy incited reactions ranging from amusement from Russian officials to horror in Europe.
Senator Bernie Sanders highlighted the peril of Trump’s rapport with Putin, stating it threatens allied relations and emboldens authoritarianism. “This alliance signifies abandoning allies, promoting autocracy, and eroding democratic norms,” he shared online.
The common thread in Trump’s actions is expanding personal power, explains Georgetown law’s Josh Chafetz. “The motive behind this power grab is nebulous,” he continued, pointing out Trump’s lack of strong ideological commitments.
Despite fears of judicial disregard, Trump and Musk assured compliance with court verdicts, with plans to seek legislative endorsement for their initiatives. Nevertheless, there have been calls for the impeachment of dissenting judges by some Republicans.
Other red flags include the Department of Justice’s overt alignment with Trump’s political agenda. It notably dropped charges against New York’s mayor, prompting resignations among senior legal officials concerned about the rule of law.
The appointment of Ed Martin, a defense attorney for Jan. 6 Capitol insurgents, as U.S. attorney for D.C., further incited controversy as he targeted Democratic lawmakers for investigation.
Kevin Casas-Zamora likens the use of power to favor allies and penalize opponents to traditional Latin American politics, suggesting this approach threatens democracy.
Trump’s intensified media antagonism involves restricting access to media outlets and probing federally funded communications networks like NPR under his administration’s directive.
Democratic leaders have issued stark warnings against Trump’s tactics. In a recent address, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker evoked historical Nazi parallels, urging vigilance to avert past mistakes.
