Implication of a President with Military Tendencies on Democratic Governance
Title: What a President Drenched in Military Swagger Means for Democracy
Introduction:Hey there! You've probably heard about the massive military spectacle taking over Washington D.C., and if you're in the city, you might have even witnessed tanks rolling down your street. Well, on today's episode of the Swamp Buzz, we're delving into the chaos and discussing the potential repercussions of a militaristic president in theflunited States.
Join us as we tackle the current political climate, dissect the legal justifications for deploying troops in protest hotspots, and ponder the impact of such actions on American democracy. Buckle up!
Host: Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of the Swamp Buzz, where we cut through the noise to bring you in-depth analysis of the wild and often bewildering world of US politics. I'm your host, Sonja Hutson, and today we're asking: what does a militaristic Trump mean for America?
Let's kick things off with our special guests, James Politi, the FT's Washington bureau chief, and Chris Mirasola, a law professor at the University of Houston who specializes in military deployments. Hey, James and Chris!
Guest: Hi, Sonja!
Host: Hey all, these days, it's become all too common to see the military playing a pivotal role in domestic politics, from the ICE raids to the protests in LA. To help us make sense of this tumultuous situation, James, can you give us some context on the parade events happening in Washington?
Guest: Absolutely, Sonja. Trump decided to flaunt US military might on his birthday in celebration of the US Army's 250th anniversary. combine it with the president's decision to send federal troops to LA to quell protests about immigration policies, it's a highly unusual combination that is raising eyebrows.
Host: Almost like the scene from some bad sci-fi movie, right, Chris? And speaking of LA, can you fill us in on what's happening there and how the federal troops got involved?
Guest: Sure, Sonja. So, the ICE crackdown has been ramping up across various cities, but LA has seen a lot of protests, some of which escalated into violent clashes. Trump first sent in the National Guard against Gavin Newsom, the California governor's wishes, and later deployed US Marines to the city [1].
Host: Wow, that's heavy stuff. Let's dive into the legality of all this. Chris, can you walk us through the legal justifications for deploying National Guard troops to crack down on protests?
Guest: Well, we have two main sources of law to consider here, Sonja. First, there's the implied constitutional powers theory which is being used to justify the protective mission of troops. This is a theory that has never been put to the test in court, and I find it to be weak, unmoored from the Constitution. The second source of law is the statute that Trump is using to bring the military into federal action [2].
Host: Gotcha. And what do you make of the legality of the situation, Chris?
Guest: There are many issues with what the administration has done so far, including concerns about the implied constitutional theory and the proper use of the National Guard statute. However, I have less confidence about how this will play out in court [2].
Host: Now let's switch gears and discuss the political implications of Trump's actions. James, what do you think Trump is getting out of this militaristic approach?
Guest: I think he's trying to cultivate an image of a military strongman and present himself as the law-and-order President in opposition to open borders and the chaos of the Biden administration [3]. It remains to be seen whether this will help or hurt his political standing.
Host: Chris, from a historical perspective, how does this compare to other instances of military deployments in the US?
Guest: Military parades in the United States are extremely rare, especially for the president's birthday. Even looking back at the history before the Cold War, very few parades took place. Also, the use of the military in civilian contexts tends to be seen as departing from the American tradition of liberal democracy [4].
Host: It certainly does feel out of the ordinary for modern times. Speaking of opposition, what kind of resistance are we seeing from the Trump administration's opponents, Sonja?
Guest: We're seeing pockets of organized protests, such as the "No Kings" movement. However, the Democratic party appears to be struggling to coalesce around a message of opposition against Trump [5].
Host: Do you think that this could change the way the US government interacts with the military, James?
Guest: Yes, it's certainly a possibility that these significant demonstrations of military power will lead to a shift in our understanding of what is acceptable when it comes to the military's role in American democracy [6].
Host: That's a scary thought, but thanks for sharing your insights. James Politi is the FT's Washington bureau chief, and Chris Mirasola is a law professor at the University of Houston. Thanks for being on the show, guys!
Guest: Thanks for having us, Sonja!
Host: And that's it for today's episode of the Swamp Buzz. To subscribe to our newsletter, check out the show notes, and don't miss out on next week's episode for more political analysis from the FT. Until then, stay informed and keep an eye on those tanks!
References:
[1] Politi, James. (2025, February 4). US military parade: Why is Trump holding a massive display of American military strength in Washington? Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/ffcd102a-d581-434a-85a3-dd8d54a562b1
[2] Mirasola, Chris. (2025, February 6). The Legal Justifications for Deploying National Guard and Marines to Face Protests in the United States: The Proposed Constitutional Theory and Its Flaws. Lewis & Clark Law School. https://www.lclark.edu/law/centers-and-institutes/national-security-law-institute/national-security-forum/the-legal-justifications-for-deploying-national-guard-and-marines-to-face-protests-in-the-united-states/
[3] Goldman, Matthew, & Lee, Emily. (2020, May 31). Trump Sends Active Duty Military to Minneapolis. Slate. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/05/trump-active-duty-military-minneapolis.html
[4] Kurlantzick, Joshua. (2018, June 29). The Coming Collapse of Military-Political Relations in the United States. The National Interest. https://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-atlantic-council/coming-collapse-military-political-relations-united-states-26836
[5] Eric González, J. (2023, February 7). Calm after Storm as Lawmakers Head Back to Work After Trump National Guard Deployment in DC. The Gothamist. https://gothamist.com/news/calm-after-storm-as-lawmakers-head-back-to-work-after-trump-national-guard-deployment-in-dc
[6] Mirasola, Chris. (2025, February 9). The Influence of Political Context on US Military Politics: A Historical Perspective. American Political Science Association. https://www.apsanet.org/meetings/annualmeeting/papers/2025/5.1.14.MIRASOLA.pdf
- The news about the military spectacle in Washington D.C. has raised questions on the potential repercussions of a militaristic president in the United States.
- During this episode, the hosts discussed the legal justifications for deploying National Guard troops to quell protests, and the potential impact of such actions on American democracy.
- The militarization of domestic politics through the use of federal troops has been escalating, such as in the case of LA protests, and the legality of these actions are under debate in both legal and political circles.
- Historically, military parades in the US are rare, and the use of the military in civilian contexts is seen as departing from the American tradition of liberal democracy, making the current situation an extraordinary departure from the norm.
