The Undoing of Democracy: Trump's Assault on Governance, Law, and Education
Undermining Democratic Institutions: Strategies Employed by President Donald Trump
In the midst of his second term, US President Donald Trump is striking at the very core of American democracy. By undermining the separation of powers, challenging equality before the law, and compromising education and research, Trump seemingly aspires to create a nation that opposes the democratic values cherished by millions.
With a scale of 0 for a dictatorship and 100 for a perfect democracy, the US has seen a significant drop in the democratic index under Trump's leadership, especially among scientists. Whereas the index had not fallen below 60 even during his first term and the Capitol insurrection attempt, it now stands at 49. The USA seems to be on the path towards authoritarianism. Yet, the extent and permanence of this slide remain uncertain.
Confronting the Judiciary
Although the judiciary holds the power to review and moderate the presidential actions, Trump's administration has consistently ignored court orders and actively limited its engagement with the judiciary. Public insults towards judges and multiple claims about their lack of authority reflect a deliberate disregard for the judiciary's essential role in upholding the rule of law.
Trump's authoritarian approach extends to the US Congress as well, with several instances of obstructing its decision-making power. For example, the sale of the social media platform TikTok, which was approved by Congress on bipartisan grounds, has been blocked by Trump. Furthermore, Washington is exercising control over the funding of unwanted agencies, a right constitutionally delegated to the Congress.
Disregard for Equal Justice
The Trump administration has repeatedly shown little regard for the principle of equal justice, enshrined in the US Constitution, upholding the notion that everyone within the country's jurisdiction should have fair access to the court system, regardless of their citizenship. Over the weekend, Trump himself questioned whether the Constitution even applies to migrants, hinting at a two-tiered legal system. In such a scenario, non-citizens might be denied their day in court, and even US citizens could be subject to unfair treatment.
One notable example of this disregard for justice is the case of Kilmar Ábrego García, a migrant who was deported to a high-security prison in El Salvador without trial. Since then, this incident has sparked widespread criticism and debate.
Politically-Motivated Justice
The Department of Justice under Trump has been transformed into an instrument to serve the president's personal interests, going after political opponents while neglecting investigations into his own associates. This bias in the application of justice creates the impression that loyalty to Trump is more imperative than adhering to legal standards.
Restriction of Free Speech
Claims that Trump's administration has "reinvigorated free speech" are misleading, as the reality is the opposite. Trump has sued several media outlets for unfavorable coverage, a tactic meant to intimidate journalists. Meanwhile, protests by conservative influencers have been given priority in press conferences during Trump's tenure. This practice has been unfavorably compared to North Korea's restrictive media policies.
Culture War Fueled Attacks
Tactics of silencing criticism through lawsuits and tax incentives are not foreign to Trump's administration. Furthermore, books with progressive perspectives on race, gender, or historical events have been removed from public libraries under the guise of cultural wars. The two remaining copies of "Mein Kampf" in the Naval Academy, however, speak volumes.
Academia Under Threat
Trump's administration has targeted universities for their perceived political inclinations, revoking residence permits and making arrests of critics of Israel. This conservative culture war against progressive education is expandable to funding cuts and political pressure, with prominent institutions like Columbia University having to downsize, and Harvard University losing funding and tax breaks.
Republican leaders have harshly criticized universities as breeding grounds for "radical" political ideas, thereby seeking to stifle critical voices in academia. Additionally, demands for ending affirmative action measures and other reforms indicate the administration's authoritarian goals for institutions of higher learning.
A Scholar's Perspective
Jason Stanley, a democracy researcher, believes that Trump's deliberate attempts to change historical narrative and prohibit "patriotic art" are signs of autocratic ambitions. Some scholars, such as Stanley, have even gone as far as stating that the USA may have lost its democratic essence under Trump's administration.
In the face of this authoritarian assault, some academics are choosing to leave the country, as they find it increasingly difficult to teach and conduct research in an environment that is pressured by the political establishment.
The European Union, observing the unfolding events in the United States, is contemplating potential policy-and-legislation changes to protect democratic values, given the war-and-conflicts between the executive and judicial branches in the US under President Trump's leadership. General news outlets are regularly covering the crime-and-justice issues escalating within the US, as the Trump administration's disregard for policy-and-legislation, politics, and the rule of law has led to questions about equal justice and politically-motivated justice. Additionally, scholars and academics in the field of politics and education are expressing concerns about the threat to free speech and academia under Trump, triggering a general debate about the state of democracy in the US.
