Donald Trump: Tearing Apart the Foundations of Democracy in the USA
Undermining Democratic Processes: The Trump Approach to Governance
In the heat of his second term, President Donald Trump is dismantling the very foundations of democracy in the United States. From the separation of powers and the executive branch, equality before the law, and freedom of speech, to education, research, and culture, his actions paint a chilling picture of an autocratic system.
According to a widely recognized survey, the political landscape of the USA has deteriorated under Trump's leadership, with scientists reporting a steep decline in the democracy index from 67 to 49. Even during his first term and the notorious January 6, 2021, coup attempt, the index didn't drop below 60. The USA is currently sliding towards an autocratic system, but the question remains: How far and how permanent?
Trump's administration has crossed boundaries like no president since World War II in terms of the separation of powers. The administration has blatantly ignored court orders or limited cooperation with them to a minimum. Trump openly insulted judges, and several of his government members argue that judges have no authority to review and restrict the president's actions, a role clearly defined in the judiciary.
The President treats the US Congress like another agency he can control. Trump has, for example, blocked the sale of the social media platform TikTok, which was approved by both parties, and has withdrawn funding from unwanted agencies, actions that constitutionally belong to Congress.
Judicial Injustice
The right to a fair trial, or due process, is enshrined in the US Constitution for every individual within its borders, regardless of their citizenship. This principle has been repeatedly violated by Trump's administration, such as Trump publicly questioning whether the Constitution applies to migrants. If that were the case, they would be second-class citizens in the legal system.
The most notorious violation: The immigration authority deported 238 people with a migration background to a high-security prison in El Salvador without a trial. One of them was Kilmar Ábrego García. His case has since united the country.
If non-citizens were denied a fair trial, it could also happen to people with a US passport, warns lawyer Denise Gilman of the University of Texas, speaking to the "Washington Post." Trump has hinted at the possibility of deporting criminal US citizens. He announced the "largest deportation action in history" during his campaign.
Selective Justice
Freedom, "Equal Justice for All," seems to be more equal for some than others. Since the Watergate scandal, the White House had largely allowed the Department of Justice and the Attorney General to act independently. Trump changed that. He's using the department to serve his own interests, such as going after political opponents. He claims this is in the best interest of the country. A significant case occurred in April, when Trump ordered an investigation into ActBlue, the fundraising network of the Democratic Party and oppositional groups.
Simultaneously, the President has ended or allowed investigations against allies to run out. In his first months, he targeted unwanted law firms that work with Democrats through executive orders, attempting to nip lawsuits against his overreaching policies in the bud. On his first day in office, he pardoned all those convicted for the storming of the Capitol, sending a signal to society that loyalty to Trump is more important than laws.
Suppression of Speech
Trump and his team often claim they've "brought back" free speech, when in reality, they've rather restricted it. Trump has sued various U.S. media outlets for unfavorable coverage, attempting to intimidate journalists and editors. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, now even holds press rounds with pro-Trump influencers. "A briefing straight out of North Korea," the "Atlantic" called these rounds.
Book bans have been a significant issue in the conservative culture war against progressive politics since Trump's first term. The military has played a role in this as well, as they removed various books about racism, or women in the Holocaust, from the Marine Academy library. Two copies of "Mein Kampf" remain available.
Attack on Culture and Education
Trump is trying to bring the renowned Smithsonian Institution in line. The Smithsonian, as the operator of the Washington museum row, as well as a research and educational institution, serves as the nerve center of U.S. historical narrative. In a decree, Trump ordered new curations of exhibitions, tainted with racist arguments.
Democracy researcher Jason Stanley of Yale University, author of "How Fascism Works," told ntv.de that Trump is autocratic because "Trump wants to see patriotic art, and if it's not, he wants to ban it."
The government, particularly, targeted migrants at universities who publicly criticized Israel. Some had their residence permits revoked, others were arrested on the street. The Republicans view schools, especially academia, as a breeding ground for progressive politics that needs to be controlled. "Universities are the enemy," said Trump's current Vice President JD Vance once, during a culture war speech. Trump threatens some universities with funding cuts if they don't comply with his government's demands to end affirmative action measures and other restructuring.
The elite university Columbia announced it has to lay off 180 employees due to reduced funding. Harvard, which is resisting, has already had tax exemptions removed, and funding frozen. Stanley will leave his professorship at Yale and move to Canada: "It's easier to teach and conduct research elsewhere because you don't have to do it under this pressure," he told ntv.de: "I find it very difficult to see a democratic future in this country."
Source: ntv.de
- Donald Trump
- USA
Enrichment Data:The administration of President Donald Trump has had significant impacts on various aspects of American governance and society, including the separation of powers, rule of law, education, and research.
Separation of Powers
The Trump administration's actions have challenged traditional limits on executive power, potentially undermining the separation of powers. President Trump has used executive orders extensively, bypassing Congress to advance his policies, which critics argue could lead to an erosion of checks and balances[1][2][5]. This extensive use of executive authority has raised concerns about the concentration of power in the executive branch, potentially threatening the legislative and judicial branches' ability to function effectively[2][5].
Rule of Law
The administration's actions have also drawn scrutiny regarding adherence to the rule of law. President Trump's claims of virtually limitless authority and his willingness to impose policies without congressional approval have raised concerns about the legal framework and the democratic principles intended by the Constitution[3]. Additionally, his actions have been criticized for undermining the independence of key officials and institutions, such as the judiciary and law enforcement agencies[4].
Education
While specific impacts on education during the first Trump administration were notable, the second administration has not been extensively documented. However, during his first term, Trump's policies included cuts to education funding and support for voucher programs, which critics argued could divert resources from public schools. Additionally, the administration's stance on issues like immigration and climate change has influenced educational environments and access to resources for students from diverse backgrounds.
Research
The Trump administration's policies have also impacted research, particularly in areas like climate change and public health. During his first term, Trump's administration implemented policies that reduced funding for research related to climate change and restricted access to data and research on other sensitive topics. While specific details on the second administration are not detailed, the overall trend of executive actions could potentially influence research funding and priorities in similar areas.
In summary, the Trump administration has significantly impacted the separation of powers by expanding executive authority, potentially undermined the rule of law through controversial policies, influenced education through funding priorities and policy decisions, and impacted research in areas like climate change and public health. The second term's specific impacts on education and research are currently undocumented.
The European Union, in view of Trump's actions in the USA, might reconsider its policy-and-legislation on cooperation with the US, particularly in areas such as war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and general-news, given the erosion of rule-of-law, separation-of-powers, and freedom-of-speech under the Trump administration.
The politics of the USA under Trump's leadership has led to a steep decline in the democracy index, indicating the deterioration of the political landscape. This shift towards an autocratic system raises concerns about the future of democracy in the USA, not just during Trump's tenure, but potentially beyond.
The violation of due process rights, as seen in the Trump administration's treatment of non-citizens, could set a dangerous precedent for the general-news stories of crime-and-justice in the USA, particularly if the same practices are applied to US citizens in the future. This selective justice is a threat to the principles of "Equal Justice for All" that underpin the US legal system.
