Trump's Assault on Democracy: A Destructive Presidency
Trump's Methods Undermining Democratic Processes.
In the first months of his second term, US President Donald Trump has been nothing short of a wrecking ball, throwing democracy into chaos. Here's how he's been undermining the separation of powers, eroding the rule of law, and compromising education and research.
In a regular survey assessing the political climate in the US, the scale of democracy has plummeted under Trump. Among scientists, it's dropped from a dismal 67 to a concerning 49, leaving many questioning the democratic future of the nation. Even during his first term and the infamous January 6th coup attempt, the value had never dipped below 60. The US is now tumbling closer to an authoritarian system, but how far, and for how long?
The Executive Run Amok
Trump has violated the separation of powers like no president since World War II. His administration has deliberately ignored court orders and limited cooperation with the judiciary to a minimum. Trump publicly berated judges, and several government officials claim that judges have no authority to review and restrict the president's actions. However, this is the very task of the judiciary.
Despite the Constitution giving Congress the power to oversee federal agencies, Trump treats the US Congress like another agency he can boss around. He blocked the sale of TikTok, which received bipartisan approval, and slashed funding for unwanted agencies.
Ball and Chain on Justice
The right to a fair trial, or due process, is a fundamental right enshrined in the US Constitution. However, the Trump administration has repeatedly violated this principle. Trump publicly questioned whether the Constitution applies to migrants. Evidently, if this were the case, non-citizens would be second-class citizens in the legal system.
The most egregious violation: The immigration agency deported 238 people with migration backgrounds to a high-security prison in Central America without trial. One of them was Kilmar Ábrego García, a case that has since dominated the country.
Stepping on Scales of Justice
"Equal justice for all" seems to be more equal for some than others. Since the Watergate scandal, the White House had largely allowed its Department of Justice and the Attorney General to act independently. Trump changed that. He uses the department to serve his own interests, such as targeting political opponents, and claims that this is in the best interest of the country.
At the same time, the President has ended or allowed investigations against his allies to run their course. In his first months, the President went after unwanted law firms that work with Democrats, with the aim of stifling lawsuits against his overreaching policies. On his first day in office, he pardoned all those convicted for the storming of the Capitol. This sends a clear message to society: loyalty to Trump is paramount.
The Hypocrisy of Free Speech
Trump and his team often claim they have "brought back" free speech. In reality, they have rather restricted it. Trump has sued various U.S. media outlets for lackluster coverage, intimidating journalists and editorial boards in the process. The White House spokeswoman now holds press rounds with pro-Trump influencers, a tactic a "Atlantic" author described as "a briefing straight out of North Korea."
Book bans have been a contentious issue in the conservative culture war against progressive politics since Trump's first term. Several books about racism and women in the Holocaust have been removed from the library of the Naval Academy. Interestingly, two copies of "Mein Kampf" remain available.
Crosshairs on Culture and Research
Trump is trying to bring the renowned Smithsonian Institution in line. As the operator of the Washington museum row, as well as a research and educational institution, the Smithsonian is something like the nexus of US historical writing. In a decree, Trump ordered new curations of exhibitions, spiked with racist arguments.
Trump has been targeting migrants at universities who publicly criticize Israel. Some had their residence permits revoked, others were arrested on the street. The Republicans see schools and, especially, academia as a breeding ground for progressive politics that needs to be controlled.
"Universities are the enemy," Trump's current vice president, JD Vance, once said while giving a speech on the conservative culture war. Trump threatens to withhold funds from some universities if they don't report their students and comply with government demands to end affirmative action and other restructuring measures.
Democracy researcher Jason Stanley of Yale University told ntv.de that Trump is an autocrat for this reason, among others: "Trump wants to see patriotic art, and if it's not, he wants to ban it." With a democratic future uncertain, many scholars, like Stanley, are seeking refuge in Canada.
Sources: ntv.de
- Donald Trump
- USA
Enrichment Data:
- Separation of Powers
- Trump's administration has violated the separation of powers by disregarding court orders and limiting collaboration with the judiciary.
- The President has interfered with Congress's authority to oversee federal agencies.
- Rule of Law
- The Trump administration's broad interpretation of executive power has been criticized for undermining the rule of law.
- The administration has faced numerous lawsuits, reflecting ongoing tensions with legal and legislative institutions over executive authority.
- Free Speech and Media
- Trump has been accused of creating a hostile environment towards critical media, potentially undermining media freedom and public discourse.
- Education
- The Trump administration has targeted migrants at universities who publicly criticize Israel. The Republicans see education, especially academia, as a breeding ground for progressive politics that needs to be controlled.
- The government has threatened to withhold funds from universities if they don't comply with government demands.
These actions by the Trump administration have escalated tensions with the judiciary, the legislative branch, media outlets, and the academic community, raising concerns about the state of democracy in the US.
- The European Union has expressed concerns about the political resistance Trump's presidency poses to democratic principles, drawing comparisons to authoritarian systems and war-and-conflicts.
- Smithsonian experts are alarmed by the Trump administration's decree to revise museum exhibitions, fearing it could undermine education-and-self-development and personal-growth by promoting racist arguments.
- In the realm of politics and policy-and-legislation, Trump's administration has faced criticisms for its broad interpretation of executive power, eroding the rule of law and the separation of powers during his two terms.
- On the WhatsApp group 'General News', discussions revolve around Trump's impact on the justice system, with many questioning the fairness of trials and the influence of politics on crime-and-justice.
- Cases like Kilmar Ábrego García's deportation without trial raise concerns about due process and the degree to which individual rights are protected in Trump's America.
- Academics, fearing for their research and the educational environment, are considering self-exile in light of the administration's threats to withhold funds from universities that don't adhere to government policies.
