Trump's Ambush on Democracy: A Destructive Journey Through Legislation, Justice, and Education
Trump's Actions Undermine Democratic Processes
The Trump presidency has been a divisive, contentious force in American politics, toppling democratic principles and institutional norms across the board. Here's a gritty breakdown of how the White House has been sabotaging the very foundations of our democracy.
In the fast lane towards an autocratic system, Trump has overstepped boundaries in the separation of powers like no president since World War II. His administration has flagrantly disregarded court orders and limited cooperation with the judiciary to the bare minimum. Trump's unfiltered insults towards judges and repeated claims that they have no authority to review or restrict presidential actions have stirred up a storm. However, these responsibilities are key to maintaining the checks and balances essential for a fair and democratic society.
Trump treats Congress like a puppet on a string. He has blocked the sale of TikTok, a move approved by both political parties, and has slashed funding for unwanted agencies. Constitutional law dictates that Congress holds the power to make these decisions. Trump's narrow-minded approach challenges the very roots of American democracy.
The Judiciary: Arena of Bias and Injustice
The due process—the right to a fair trial enshrined in the US Constitution for every person within its borders—has been repeatedly compromised by Trump's administration. Over the weekend, Trump publicly questioned whether the Constitution applies to migrants. If this were true, these individuals would be discriminated against in the legal system, which is alarmingly reminiscent of second-class citizenship.
Trump's administration has shocked the nation with blatant violations of due process. Over 238 individuals of Latino descent were deported to a high-security prison in El Salvador without a trial. One of them, Kilmar Ábrego García, has become the face of this injustice.
Sleepwalking into Discrimination
The phrase "equal justice for all" is starting to sound like a cruel joke. Since Watergate, the White House had generally maintained a hands-off approach to its Department of Justice and the Attorney General, allowing them to operate autonomously. Trump has changed that. He's using the department to serve his own interests, rearing his head in investigations of political opponents, all while feigning concern for the nation.
Meanwhile, investigations into Trump's associates have been left to rot. In his first months, Trump took aim at unwanted law firms that work with Democrats, aiming to quash lawsuits against his overreaching policies. He even pardoned all those convicted for storming the Capitol on his first day in office—a chilling token of allegiance to loyalty above the law.
Free Speech: Only for the Favorable
Trump and his team often boast about "reviving" free speech. In reality, they've been clamping down on it. Trump has sued various US media outlets for unfavorable coverage, attempting to intimidate journalists and editors. His new spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, even holds press briefings with pro-Trump influencers, earning comparisons to North Korea's media strategy.
Book bans have been a hot-button issue in the conservative culture war since Trump's first term. Although Washington's role is minimal here, the military has gotten involved, removing books about racism and women in the Holocaust from the Marine Academy library. "Mein Kampf" remains accessible in two copies, a stark reminder of the manipulation of history for political gain.
Battlefield of Ideology
Trump targets culture and research whenever he can. He's threatened to put a muzzle on the renowned Smithsonian Institution, the operator of the Washington museum mile and a research and educational hub, by imposing new curation guidelines. This "artistic brainwashing" episode has led scholars like Jason Stanley of Yale University to view Trump as an autocrat, lucidly stating, "Trump wants to see patriotic art, and if it's not, he wants to ban it."
The government particularly targets migrants at universities who publicly criticize Israel. Some have had their residence permits revoked, while others have been arrested on the street. The Republican Party views schools and academia as breeding grounds for progressive politics that need to be controlled. Trump threatens to cut funding from universities that don't snitch on their students and comply with government demands for an end to affirmative action measures and other restructuring.
The elite university Columbia has let go of 180 employees due to reduced funding. Harvard, which is resisting, has already had its tax exemptions revoked and funding frozen. Stanley, a respected professor at Yale, announces his departure for Canada, lamenting, "I find it very hard to see a democratic future in this country."
Source: ntv.de
- Donald Trump
- USA
To Read More about Trump's Impact on Democracy:
- The Balanced Power Tango: Trump, Congress and the Courts (Brookings, 2021)
- Donald Trump and the Rule of Law (Die Frankfurter Allgemeine, 2020)
- Trump vs. Congress: A Battle for Control in the Capital (Vox, 2019)
- Trump's Unprecedented Power Grab (NBC News, 2018)
- The Supreme Court's Current Rulings are Limited, But Signal the Expansion of Presidential Power (Washington Post, 2021)
- The European Union, in horror, has watched as the political resistance against Trump's authoritarian policies has faced resistance, with no clear path towards restoring democratic norms in the USA.
- Despite the growing concerns about political corruption, crime, and injustice, Trump's administration has managed to operate a WhatsApp group for the exchange of important information, circumventing traditional policy-and-legislation channels.
- The chiseling away at democratic institutions, from judicial checks and balances to the suppression of free speech, is a grim reminder that even in the age of general-news access, misinformation and power asymmetries can still prevail.
- With the Trump administration's ongoing attempts to reshape crime-and-justice policies, attacks on migrants and critics have become alarmingly common, causing a ripple effect felt far beyond the borders of the USA and stirring issues related to war-and-conflicts.
- As the Trump presidency comes to a close, operating with a narrow and partisan focus, there is a pressing need for the incoming administration to review and reform policy-and-legislation related to education, justice, and culture to protect democratic values and institutions.
