In all of American historical past, there has by no means been something like the primary 100 days of Donald Trump’s presidency. No president in historical past has asserted such sweeping, unchecked powers. It’s not hyperbole to say that if there’s a path towards authoritarianism on this nation, that is it.
In his first three months, Trump has asserted powers and brought actions by no means earlier than seen in the US. He has tried to override the Constitution by eliminating birthright citizenship. He has asserted the flexibility to get rid of federal companies created by statute and to refuse to spend federal funds allotted by federal legislation. He has claimed the ability to fireplace anybody who works within the govt department, however federal legal guidelines limiting elimination.
He has withheld cash from universities with out following procedures mandated by legislation and with out authorized justification. He has violated the First Modification by revoking visas solely due to a person’s private views expressed. He has imposed sanctions on law firms that might possible put them out of enterprise solely out of retribution for the legal professionals they’ve employed or shoppers they’ve represented. He has claimed the flexibility to imprison individuals, together with U.S. residents, in a maximum-security prison in El Salvador and has repeatedly asserted that no courtroom has the authority to offer them any reduction.
These are simply some of the president’s blatantly unconstitutional and unlawful acts within the first 100 days of his second time period.
To not point out different outrageous Trump actions, together with imposing tariffs that may exceed his authority as president, which have created financial chaos in the US and overseas; working aggressively to finish all federal efforts to cope with local weather change, defying science and exacerbating an existential menace to the planet; largely abandoning Ukraine and emboldening Russia; and inserting individuals accountable for federal companies — together with Pete Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel — whose solely qualification is loyalty to the president.
It’s crucial that this not been seen as throughout the bounds of the traditional or acceptable. It’s unprecedented. It’s not about objecting to conservative insurance policies, however slightly to the lawlessness of Trump’s actions.
Certainly, if there’s a theme that unites all of this, it’s a full disregard for the Structure and legal guidelines of the US. Trump has stated precisely this when he remarked over social media, “He who saves the country violates no law.”
This should be condemned. The core of the rule of legislation is that nobody — not even the president — is above the legislation. If the president can violate any legislation, and even ignore courtroom orders, then we’re now not a constitutional democracy. The phrase for that could be a dictatorship, and it’s chilling to understand how shut we’re to that.
We should do all we are able to to struggle again towards unconstitutional and unlawful acts. We want the courts to proceed to enjoin the violations of the legislation.
When the courts have dominated towards the Trump administration, the president and his supporters have lashed out: They’ve known as for the impeachment of judges who rule towards them, and Home Speaker Mike Johnson has called for eliminating entire courts that rule towards presidential insurance policies. That’s what occurs in totalitarian nations, not in the US. But on April 24, the FBI arrested a Wisconsin state court judge, clearly attempting to ship a message of intimidation to all judges within the nation. Such assaults on the courts must be roundly and extensively denounced.
In the meantime, Democrats in Congress have been far too silent. I hope that there can be a degree when sufficient Republicans will be part of them and say this has gone too far. However till that occurs, Democrats have to act. They’ll maintain unofficial hearings to carry to gentle what is occurring. They’ll take part statements of rules. They’ll converse individually and collectively towards the usurpation of Congress’ powers and towards unconstitutional acts.
Individuals want to make use of their voices — by their organizations, in petitions and at rallies — to specific that the actions of the Trump administration in undermining constitutional democracy will not be acceptable.
Trump’s unlawful acts will trigger grave hurt to many individuals. Cutoffs of funds for worldwide help will trigger individuals in different nations to die from lack of medical care and meals. Cuts in medical analysis can have devastating penalties for locating cures for illnesses. Important layoffs within the Social Safety administration will imply many individuals won’t be able to get important advantages.
The guardrails of our democracy are being challenged as by no means earlier than. It’s gorgeous how a lot the primary 100 days have revealed the weak spot in our system. However the nation has confronted severe challenges to democracy earlier than and overcome them. It may occur once more.
