Yet another grueling week of Donald Trump’s presidency has come and gone. This past week’s developments seemed to be more of the same that I’ve come to expect– exhausting. So far, his actions appear to me as power grabs that benefit himself, his loyalists and all of his friends in the wealthy, billionaire class. Every day, more and more federal government officials are being dismissed and replaced with loyalists. Trump’s assault on USAID has continued, with a federal judge having greenlit further dismantling of the agency. Every day, Trump’s executive branch has reached for more and more power, in a fashion that resembles not so much a president, but a tyrant of old.
Many of Trump’s actions appear to be guided by the much-maligned document, Project 2025– a plan that outlines an authoritarian takeover of the federal government. While Trump claimed publicly to have no connection to the document, many of his actions as president have fallen right in line with the plan’s strategy, from this consistent use of executive orders to the installment of loyalists in federal agencies.
Among these actions, Trump has issued a decree granting himself total control and oversight of all independent regulatory agencies in the federal government. This is in addition to his order declaring only the president and attorney general have the power to interpret laws– a power historically reserved to courts. I see this as Trump and his administration doubling down in one of the most drastic power grabs ever attempted by a sitting president.
These actions come as much of his agenda has been challenged and halted in court, amid concern that he and his administration will simply ignore the court decisions. This certainly would come as no surprise, given statements from Vice President JD Vance that essentially dare the courts to try and enforce their rulings. All of this is occurring as Trump makes quick work of severing any goodwill Ukraine may have held for the United States, as he cozies up to Russia in negotiations to end the ongoing war.
At this point, it is irresponsible and dangerous to ignore the facts of this situation. Trump is attempting to consolidate all power in the federal government, disregarding the independence of government agencies and even governmental branches’ separation of power. Trump, as his recent social media behaviors would indicate, wishes to become the king of the United States. This ideal was cemented even further at the CPAC convention from Feb. 21-24, where the idea of a third Trump term was made a clear goal of the committee in a night of anti-immigrant sentiments, chainsaws and more Nazi salutes. We can’t ignore the reality of what Trump is trying to do. Trump will not rest until he has shredded the Constitution, only to piece it together to his liking, leaving a broken nation in his wake.
For their part, the Democratic Party’s leadership does not seem to have gotten the memo regarding the situation that, frankly, we all saw coming for months. The party’s leadership, and primarily Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have been incredibly slow and weak in responding to Trump’s authoritarian takeover. This has caused a surge of progressive Democrats to begin organizing for their vision of a militant Democratic Party, one capable of not just fighting Trump, but delivering on the progressive policies that so many people look to the party for. This, in my opinion, will be critical if we wish to make it past this Trump term.
Ignoring and downplaying Trump’s authoritarian tendencies while relying on the very government he is dismantling to check his power is a completely asinine strategy. If Trump wants to be a king, the Democratic Party must be active and militant in shutting down his agenda.
