Lisa Murkowski sounds the alarm on Trump and his tendencies towards authoritarian rule.

Weekend's nationwide "No Kings" protests have demonstrated that numerous Americans are uneasy about their government veering towards authoritarianism under President Donald Trump.

Laughter and mockery arose from the right, labeling the left as overly dramatic. However, for the first time since Trump resumed office and tested the limits of his power, a prominent GOP officeholder publicly pondered whether the protesters may have a point - that Trump could be guiding the country towards authoritarianism.

Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska has been one of the most vocal GOP critics of Trump's actions for years - most recently on matters like his second-term Cabinet nominees to the war in Ukraine to the Department of Government Efficiency.

What's noteworthy is that she doesn't just criticize the actions, like many public GOP critics usually do; she delves into the potential reasons behind Trump's actions. While she didn't categorize Trump as an authoritarian, she acknowledged that the interpretation is valid.

Murkowski questioned Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles amid protests against the administration's deportation policies. Trump became the first president in about 60 years to send the Guard without the approval of the governor, and a district judge recently ruled that Trump illegally federalized the troops (the ruling is currently suspended while it's being appealed).

"I believe [Trump's actions are] unprecedented in terms of a response and one that I find deeply concerning," Murkowski told reporters. "We do have provisions, we have laws, we have an understanding that our military is not meant to be used on our own people."

Then, Murkowski addressed Trump's motivations.

"So is this a test from President Trump in terms of his powers?" she asked. "One has to wonder."

When asked directly if Trump aims to be an authoritarian leader, Murkowski neither confirmed nor denied the possibility.

"I'm not certain if he is looking to be an authoritarian ruler or if it's Donald Trump simply being Donald Trump and that we as a nation have accepted this type of leadership at the moment," she said.

Murkowski also noted that the balance between the executive branch and other branches is "out of equilibrium." Trump has made several moves that have sidelined the GOP-controlled Congress, including on issues like cutting spending and tariffs, which the Constitution assigns to the legislative branch.

In his first 100 days, Congress passed a record-low number of bills while Trump set a record for unilateral executive actions.

While Murkowski's comments may seem cautious to some Trump critics seeking clearer condemnation, they do add weight to the argument that the nation is moving towards a path that our democracy may struggle to recover from. Here lies one of 53 Republican senators whom, even if only subtly, raises a legitimate concern about an impending path that could be detrimental to our democracy and must be addressed.

In 2023, Mitt Romney from Utah labeled Trump as having "authoritarian inclinations." Around the same time, Paul Ryan of Wisconsin identified Trump as a "populist, authoritarian narcissist." Three generals who served in high-ranking positions under Trump during his first term later likened him to a fascist. And Mark Esper, Trump's former Defense Secretary, stated that Trump had authoritarian "leanings."

These comments were mainly shared during the 2024 campaign, so they could be dismissed as heated political rhetoric aimed at blocking Trump from returning to office. Today, though, Murkowski has spoken up after Trump has made strategic moves in consolidating power across various fronts. She tied her fears to specific Trump actions that have heightened the relevance of the authoritarian issue for many of Trump's strongest critics.

(And to emphasize, this isn't just the voice of a few concerned individuals. Nearly half of the 2024 election voters expressed "significant concern" that another Trump presidency would bring the nation closer to authoritarianism, according to AP data.)

The Alaska Republican also hinted that her concerns regarding the exertion of power could be more widespread than we realize within the Republican Party. In April, she raised eyebrows for stating that lawmakers were often "afraid" to speak out against the administration out of fear of retaliation. And she solidified her previous point by alluding to the possibility of quiet disagreement among her colleagues who avoid expressing their concerns publicly.

In brief, Murkowski has taken a watchful stance against Trump's potential authoritarian leanings. Although hesitant to classify him definitively, she warns about the implications of his actions, particularly the deployment of troops domestically.

Amidst the ongoing discussions about politics and President Donald Trump's governance, the issues of migration and war-and-conflicts have taken a backseat in the general news.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, a vocal GOP critic, has extended her criticisms to policy-and-legislation, questioning Trump's decisions that have sidelined the GOP-controlled Congress on matters like spending and tariffs.
The recent weekend protests, known as the "No Kings" demonstrations, have brought attention to car-accidents and fires in cities with heightened tensions due to administration's policies.
In the light of these events, the debate on whether Trump's leadership is veering towards authoritarianism has gained traction, especially in the context of crime-and-justice, such as the controversial deployment of troops domestically.
sports, specifically football, have become a popular distraction for many Americans, with the Champions League and European leagues providing a much-needed break from the ongoing political discourse.
The markets, affected by the political climate, have seen a surge in sports-betting activities, hoping for a glimmer of escapism offered by sporting events.
As the election of 2024 approaches, the balance of power and the consequences of authoritarian leadership are hot topics of discussion, not just among mainstream media but also among ordinary citizens.
In the midst of these discussions, Murkowski's remarks serve as a reminder that many within the Republican Party could harbor similar concerns about Trump's authoritarian tendencies, even if they have yet to come forward publicly.