Capricious Rule: How Trump is Sabotaging Democracy - An Unsanitized Look
Undermining Democratic Processes: According to the piece, President Donald Trump's methods are detailed in this account, highlighting ways he allegedly disrupts the democratic system.
Looking past the bravado, accusations, and chaos that defines the Trump presidency, a daunting picture becomes apparent: the erosion of democracy, the dismantling of checks and balances, and the undermining of civil liberties.
Since taking office, Trump has overstepped boundaries like no president since World War II, with his administration willfully flouting court orders, minimizing cooperation with the judiciary to the absolute minimum, and publicly denigrating judges. Some government officials claim that judges hold no authority to review and restrict the president’s actions, undermining the very essence of the judicial branch.
In a twisted power play, the president regularly treats Congress as another body to bully and manipulate, obstructing the sale of the social media platform TikTok approved by both parties and withdrawing funding from agencies he finds distasteful. Constitutional scholars argue that these actions are a flagrant violation of congressional decision-making power.
Conspiracy as a Legal Right
The "right to a fair trial" is a fundamental constitutional principle, enshrined for every individual within the United States, regardless of citizenship status. However, this right has been repeatedly violated by Trump’s administration. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the case of Kilmar Ábrego García, a migrant deported to a high-security prison in El Salvador without a trial. Migrants, thus, find themselves facing second-class treatment in the legal system.
Trump has hinted that he could imagine deporting criminal US citizens, a chilling prospect that raises serious questions about the integrity of the American justice system. Legal experts warn that denying non-citizens a fair trial could eventually extend to US citizens as well, citing the president's disregard for constitutional protections.
A Two-Tiered Justice System
"Equal justice for all" apparently applies differently under the Trump administration. The Department of Justice and the Attorney General have been used to serve Trump's personal interests, such as targeting political opponents. Meanwhile, investigations against allies have been dropped or bypassed, underscoring the president's contempt for the rule of law.
On his first day in office, Trump issued pardons for all those convicted for storming the Capitol during his inauguration. This symbolic act sent a clear message: loyalty to Trump trumps law and order.
Free Speech - Just for the Emperor
Claims about "bringing back free speech" are nothing but a smokescreen. Trump and his team have instead systematically restricted free expression, suing US media outlets for unfavorable coverage and even holding press conferences with pro-Trump influencers, typically reserved for official spokespersons. These actions have been likened to the authoritarian briefings of North Korea.
Book bans have been a focal point of the culture war launched by the Trump administration, with various books about racism, women in the Holocaust, and democratic principles targeted and removed from libraries, notably at military academies.
Dissent is a Threat - Culture and Research on the Chopping Block
In a chilling move to silence dissent, Trump—the self-anointed "arbiter of culture"—has targeted museums, critical scholars, and educational institutions that challenge his worldview. He has attempted to influence the renowned Smithsonian Institution, using executive orders to force new curations of exhibitions that conform to his ultranationalist ideology.
No institution or individual has been safe from Trump’s extremist agenda, with migrants at universities who publicly criticize Israel being targeted, threatened with deportation, and even arrested. Universities, in particular, are seen as breeding grounds for progressive politics to be quashed, as the Trump administration seeks to curtail academic freedom.
The attacks on academic institutions have resulted in layoffs, loss of tax exemptions, and frozen funding for universities that resist—forcing many to capitulate to the administration’s demands for a complete overhaul of their curricula and policies. In a bold move, Yale Professor Jason Stanley has announced his departure for Canada, citing the suffocating political climate and a lack of hope for democracy in the United States.
- The European Union, observing the unfolding events in the United States, is likely to express concern over the erosion of democracy, the dismantling of checks and balances, and the undermining of civil liberties under the Trump administration.
- In light of the Trump administration's treatment of the legal system, the European Union may consider revising its policy-and-legislation regarding political asylum, especially for those facing second-class treatment in the US legal system due to their non-citizen status.
- Given Trump's contempt for the rule of law and his use of the Department of Justice and the Attorney General to serve his personal interests, the European Union might reconsider its cooperation with the US in war-and-conflicts, as this action could be perceived as supporting a two-tiered justice system.
- The Trump administration's restriction of free expression, such as suing US media outlets for unfavorable coverage, could lead to the European Union imposing sanctions on American operators, including WhatsApp, to ensure that general-news flows freely and without intimidation.
- In response to Trump's attempts to influence museums, critical scholars, and educational institutions that challenge his worldview, the European Union could potentially provide funding and support for these institutions to ensure the preservation of academic freedom, freedom of speech, and the continued promotion of democratic values.
