Dismantling Democracy: How President Donald Trump Threatens the Pillars of America
Undermining Democratic Processes: A Look at President Donald Trump's Actions
US President Donald Trump's second term has witnessed a relentless assault on the bedrock of American democracy: the separation of powers, the judiciary, education, and freedom of speech. Over 700 scientists and a growing number of citizens are tracking these developments with concern.
In a recent survey evaluating the state of political systems, the US score has significantly dipped under Trump, plunging from 67 to 49 among scientists. Even during the tumultuous period of Trump's first term and the Capitol siege, the score never slipped below 60, indicating a steady slide toward an autocratic regime. But how far will this descent go, and how permanent will it be?
Executive Overreach and Judicial Contempt
Trump has blurred the boundaries of executive power like no president since World War II. The administration has flouted court orders, minimalized cooperation with judges, and publicly berated the judiciary. Trump claimed that judges have no authority to review or restrict presidential actions, yet this is their very task.
Treating the US Congress like another agency he can coerce, Trump has hampered the sale of TikTok, approved by both political parties, and withheld funding from unwanted agencies. According to the constitution, these decisions belong to Congress, not the President.
Due Process Denied and Selective Justice
Equal justice for all might as well read for some, not others under Trump's administration. Over the weekend, Trump raised doubts about the constitutional rights of migrants, implying that they were second-class citizens in the legal system. This polarizing maneuver could lead to the erosion of protections for US citizens as well.
The administration has demonstrated a flagrant disregard for due process, with one blatant example being the deportation of 238 people to El Salvador's notorious prison without a trial. This appalling case, involving Kilmar Ábrego García, has set off a wave of public outcry.
Politics Over Justice: The Department of Justice Becomes Trump's Tool
Trump has transformed the Department of Justice into a means of serving his personal interests, a stark deviation from past practices of semi-autonomous operation. With this politicized department, the President has targeted political adversaries and critics, while letting allies off the hook. A notable case: In April, Trump ordered an investigation into ActBlue, the fundraising platform of the Democratic Party and opposition groups.
The Stifling of Free Speech
Claiming to "bring back" free speech, the Trump administration has, in fact, suppressed it. Trump has filed lawsuits against US media outlets for unfavorable coverage, a blatant attempt at intimidation. The White House press conferences, now controlled by pro-Trump influencers, have been likened to "briefings straight out of North Korea" by an Atlantic author.
Book bans, a contentious issue since Trump's first term, have escalated as part of the conservative culture war against progressive politics. While the federal government has limited involvement in state-level book bans, the military has targeted specific books on racism and women in the Holocaust, leaving "Mein Kampf" unscathed.
Trump's Assault on Culture and Research
The renowned Smithsonian Institution is in Trump's crosshairs as he attempts to bend the operator of the Washington museum row and a research and education institution to his will. In a decree, Trump ordered new curations of exhibitions, with racist arguments woven in. A democracy researcher from Yale University, author of "How Fascism Works," noted that Trump acts like an autocrat because he wants to see "patriotic art" and ban anything else.
The Trump administration's targeting of universities has extended to universities that criticize Israel. Some critics' residence permits have been revoked, and others have been arrested on the street. The Republicans view schools, particularly academia, as fertile ground for progressive politics that needs to be reined in. In response, some universities, like Columbia and Harvard, are facing severe financial consequences, prompting some academics to consider leaving the country. Yale professor Jason Stanley, who will be relocating to Canada, finds it hard to imagine a democratic future in America.
Sources:
- ntv.de
- Donald Trump
- USA
- The European Union has expressed concern over the political resistance encountered by democratic values in the United States under President Donald Trump's administration.
- The Trump administration's disregard for policy-and-legislation and the Constitution has resulted in an erosion of freedom of speech, as seen in the suppression of WhatsApp communications and the lawsuits filed against US media outlets.
- In the war-and-conflicts arena, the Trump administration's order for a new curation of exhibitions at the Smithsonian Institution has raised concerns about a potential politicization of the institution, particularly given the racist arguments proposed.
- The crime-and-justice system has witnessed a notable case of due process denied, as evidenced by the deportation of 238 individuals to El Salvador's notorious prison without a trial, raising questions about the administration's commitment to equal justice for all.
- The general-news landscape has been impacted by Trump's political maneuvers, with the White House press conferences being likened to controlled briefings and book bans becoming part of a conservative culture war against progressive politics.
