Many sources claim that President Trump threatens democracy.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/01/28/trump-first-week-liberalism-democracy/
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/trump-assault-american-democracy
https://odi.org/en/insights/can-american-democracy-withstand-trump/
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jun/20/trump-threat-democracy-precedents
https://zeteo.com/p/this-week-in-democracy-week-2-chaos-trump
‘https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5111241-murphy-trump-executive-actions-democracy/
‘https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/30/briefing/trump-democracy-2024-election.html
https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2024/11/trump-authoritarian-strongman-govern-signs?lang=en
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yveml59jlo
Some of the commentary is merely “sour grapes” after losing the election. For some articles, you can “consider the source” and disregard them. However, it is very clear, IMHO that President Trump, this time, is going to fulfill his election promises, including implementing the whole Project 2025 agenda, retribution on his “enemies”, and a complete disregard for legal and political “checks and balances”. He views the election as a mandate and believes he has the right to implement all of his policies as if he won victory in a “winner takes all” parliamentary system. President Trump does not support our historical system of government that greatly limits the impact of any one actor, even one who earned just 49.8% of the votes and just 31.6% of eligible voters. Non-voters won the race with a 36.6% share. Vice president Harris came in third with 30.7%.
https://www.cookpolitical.com/vote-tracker/2024/electoral-college
Federal Government Institutions
Military generals, career civil service, FBI, DOJ, inspector generals, independent agencies. These agencies have a distinguished track record of fighting for their independent roles. The first month indicates that Trump understands they are a formidable opponent to be undermined.
Federal Judiciary
Lawyers belong to a proud and left-leaning profession. Federal judges belong to a two-century legacy of judicial independence. Most “conservative” judges use the originalist theory to limit the application of laws that restrict the free market or traditional cultural actions. Many of President Trump’s initiatives fall outside of these two areas. Federal judges may use their powers to retain the commonsense version of existing laws and reinforce the principle of maintaining precedents.
Supreme Court
https://www.axios.com/2019/06/01/supreme-court-justices-ideology
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/06/02/supreme-court-justice-math-00152188
Brett Cavanaugh is less conservative than he is perceived to be. Supreme Court justices treasure their independence. Chief Justice John Roberts is relatively neutral and strongly supports the independence of the court and his legacy.
Congress
‘https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/3220665/house-republicans-kept-seats-biden-districts/
There are two dozen congressional seats held by Republicans in districts where they have a real chance of facing a competitive Democratic opponent. These individuals face strong pressures from Trump, national, state and local Republicans to fully support the president on all matters. They can have their funding cut off, lose congressional assignments and lose party staff support, but they don’t have to worry much about being “primaried” from the right.
Senate
Louisiana senator Bill Cassidy, Alaska senator Lisa Murkowski and Maine senator Susan Collins voted to impeach Trump. The other 4 Republican senators who did so are no longer in the Senate (Romney, Sasse, Burr and Toomey). Pennsylvania senator Dave McCormack and Wisconsin senator Ron Johnson join Collins as representing states with mixed party senators. In addition to Murkowski, 5 senators have a history of bipartisan activities: John Cornyn (TX), Jerry Moran (KS), Todd Young (IN), (the ageless) Chuck Grassley (IA), and Shelley Capito (WV). That makes 10 Republican senators who are more likely to consider the good of the country than their own or their party’s if “push comes to shove” on preserving our democracy. Mitch McConnell would never undermine the power of the Republican Party that he built over 4 decades, but he will not tolerate foolishness from President Trump. The U.S. Senate also has a long tradition of independence from the other branches of government. Each senator sees themselves as a base of power, representing their state, their party and the nation. Senators face political pressure to conform to their party and their party’s President, but they face elections only every 6 years and have a long history of personal support in their states.
.https://mccourt.georgetown.edu/news/bipartisan-index-2023-118th-congress/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_states_and_blue_states
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_United_States_senators
A Single Congressional Voice
Sometimes a speech, a question, an op-ed, a campaign slogan, a court brief, a story, an analogy can change the frame of reference for public opinion. When Joe McCarthy was asked “Have you no sense of decency?” he was finished.
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/joseph-mccarthy-meets-his-match
Sovereign Nations
Canada, Mexico and the EU are not going to accept Trump’s unilateral threats. They will respond strategically, irrationally, emotionally, patriotically, politically, even at a net economic cost to their people in order to protect their sovereignty. This will provide political pressure on Trump from his domestic supporters.
Big Business
American business has done very well for the last 75 years with free trade, globalization, international institutions and American dominance through alliances. Trump’s promise of lower taxes and regulation and threats of intervention for non-supporters will lead many to accept his approach, but some corporations and industries will be devastated by his trade wars. These corporations and others may see that the threat to the whole system is too large to ignore.
Governors
5 of 27 Republican governors have strong reasons to oppose any overreach by President Trump. Brian Kemp (GA), Kelly Ayotte (NH), Mike DeWine (OH), Phil Scott (VT) and Glenn Youngkin (VA). 7 of the 23 Democratic governors have national aspirations and will use their powers to aggressively thwart anti-democratic measures. Gavin Newsom (CA), Jared Polis (CO), Andy Beshear (KY), Wes Moore (MD), Gretchen Whitmer (MI), Kathy Hochul (NY), and Josh Shapiro (PA).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_United_States_governors
Mainstream and Independent Media
Trump was good for business in his first term. He will be great for business in his second term. Journalists and media firms have lost their interest in providing “balanced” coverage and stretching to find a way to interpret Trump policies, actions and statements within traditional frameworks. They are more willing to directly and repeatedly say that he is lying, that his actions break the law and norms, that his actions are inconsistent with American history. They more quickly fact check and place his actions within the context of US and global history. They challenge his wording and stories. They attempt to prioritize the news of the day and not become distracted by all of his noise.
Churches
Evangelical Christians have supported President Trump because he has delivered on his promise to appoint judges who oppose abortion and support socially conservative positions. They have rationalized that his imperfect personal character is a case of God using him for good purposes. Younger and idealistic people are leaving these churches because of this strange alliance. Some leaders now speak out against Trump. Trump has “punted” on national abortion policies, arguing that they should be resolved in each state. Actions which threaten historical American norms on politics may be “the straw which breaks the camel’s back”. Liberal churches have chosen to stay out of national politics for many decades. Trump’s cold-hearted approach to issues may lead them to oppose him from the pulpit. Protestant churches generally agree to “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”, but the generally unchallenged German Nazi situation remains as a stain on their conscience. Churches are much less influential than they once were, but certain transgressions may spring them into action.
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-christians-evangelicals-refugees-immigration-migrants-2021716
https://nationalcouncilofchurches.us/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barmen_Declaration
The American People
Although we are polarized politically, there is a large middle one-third of Americans that consider themselves “independent”. They may lean left or right, but they pride themselves on being pragmatic and not buying into the unfounded claims of politicians on either side. The American people, even most diehard Republicans, will not accept actions that undermine our government or society. Trump is expendable. There is a Republican vice president who can take his place, as necessary.
Summary
President Trump’s first 2 weeks indicate that he will test the limits of our democracy. He strongly believes that his personal views are right, and that the country has provided him with a mandate to implement them quickly and permanently. Our political system provides the president with well-defined limited powers. He will “cross the line”. There are a dozen institutions that can and will push back.
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Too many are glossing over the fact that he is a bona fide narcissist. If you read the characteristics of a narcissist, you will see that he doesn’t like the work (doesn’t read and passes off everything for others to do). He doesn’t really care about the issue, he just makes emotional decisions (constantly threatening tariffs if he doesn’t get his way). He feels he is always right. He just wants the adulation in all forms. He is compelled to surround himself with people he holds in high regard as though that rubs off on him. He will never be introspective nor compassionate. Many narcissists even will distance themselves from their children if it benefits them or to be right (such as no diplomacy in dealing with our allies. His way or the highway.) Knowing about the characteristics of a narcissist, who this time does not have any sane people to constrain him, it will be easy to see how he will act. The 2025 group is just using him (no one else could be so outrageous) and whatever they promised him fed his narcissist ego. He is even reading outloud his speeches. A concession to be sure.
I listened to the interview with Bannon. He described how Trump got here and how the plan has been working out (manipulating the press with distractions while the real work is happening behind the scenes.)
We will be tyed up in court actions as they continue to dismantle the government. The actions going on behind the scenes, walking back some of Trump’s more insidious actions through back channels has to be taxing for all countries. The complicit Republican Congress is a lesson in “I will sacrifice my nation for my seat at the table”. Weak weak men.
This cannot last without another war. Hope I am not around to witness this.