Washington, DC., 20 March 2025 ——
In recent years, the rise of populist leaders and movements has sparked debates about the erosion of democratic norms and the emergence of authoritarian practices in established democracies. Although Donald Trump’s policies are not outright authoritarian rule, in the second Trump term, his policies and actions are being called into question, and compared to those typically associated with more authoritarian governments.
Authoritarian governments are characterized by centralized control, limited political pluralism, suppression of political dissent, and significant power held by a single leader or small group of elites. This form of governance stands in contrast to liberal democracies, where power is typically distributed across various branches of government, and freedoms of speech, press, and assembly are protected.
Centralization of Power
Authoritarian regimes often work to centralize unchecked power in the hands of the leader, reducing or eliminating the influence of other branches of government. Trump’s administration, while initially operating within the confines of the American political system, frequently pushes back against Congressional oversight, executive limitations, and the judicial branch, often bypassing traditional checks and balances.
He frequently expresses frustration with Congress and the judicial system when their actions contradict his goals. For example, Trump’s use of executive orders is widespread, which allows him to push his agenda without needing legislative approval. Critics argue that this approach weakens democratic processes and expands the reach of presidential power.
Undermining Free and Fair Elections
A key feature of authoritarian rule is the manipulation of electoral systems to hold onto power. After losing the 2020 election, Trump and his allies falsely claimed widespread voter fraud, attempting to delegitimize the election process. His attempts to influence state officials and the Department of Justice also raised concerns about the erosion of democratic norms. The January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, in which Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to overturn the election results was perhaps the clearest demonstration of an authoritarian impulse to reject the outcome of a free election.
In the second term, Trump has already publicly pushed for changes that would alter the way elections are conducted in the US, including those that would allow him to remain in office. This could involve more aggressive moves to restrict voting rights or alter the electoral process in ways that favor his political allies. He has appointed loyalists to key positions in government agencies that oversee elections, further entrenching partisan influence over the voting process.
Cult of Personality
Another hallmark of authoritarian regimes is the rise of a “cult of personality” around the leader. This phenomenon often involves the leader positioning themselves as the singular protector of the nation (“I alone can fix this”), elevating their image to an almost untouchable status. Trump’s first term was marked by this. In the second term, this cult of personality is intensified. Trump’s tendency to rally his base by creating a narrative of “us vs. them” – with his supporters on one side and political elites, minorities, and immigrants, on the other – is reminiscent of tactics used by authoritarian regimes to solidify power.
As the Republican Party increasingly aligns itself with his vision, his role increases which encourages more extreme forms of political polarization, with opponents painted as “enemies of the state” a tactic that authoritarian leaders often employ to justify their crackdown on dissent.
Crackdown on Political Dissent and Civil Liberties
Authoritarian regimes are notorious for their suppression of political opposition and civil liberties, instilling fear in the masses is how they control them. While Trump did not fully adopt these measures in his first term, his rhetoric and policies frequently targeted minority groups, activists, and political opponents. His administration regularly criticized Democrats, the media, and even former Republican colleagues who disagreed with him.
In particular, his relationship with the media is fraught, with frequent attacks on journalists and outlets that are critical of his administration. He has dismissed numerous media organizations including the Associated Press, CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, as “fake news”. His administration’s response to protests, particularly those related to racial justice, reveals a willingness to use force to silence dissent, with the deployment of federal agents to quell protests in cities.
In the second term, his tactics have escalated. He’s already suggested using military or law enforcement to deal with political adversaries and demonstrators, a move that mirrors the behavior of authoritarian regimes that use state terrorism and state violence to quash public dissent. An example of Trump’s crackdown on First Amendment rights to peaceful protest; he has threatened colleges and universities with the loss of federal funding if administrators do not forbid students the right to protest, especially against government policies – acts that are completely in line with authoritarian rule. With fewer political constraints, the use of the justice system to target opponents, like his threat to prosecute rivals, becomes normalized.
Nationalistic and Xenophobic Policies
Trump’s “America First” rhetoric, which has resonated with a large portion of his base, often aligns with nationalism and Xenophobia. His immigration policies, including the construction of a border wall, kids in cages, and the “Muslim Ban”, were divisive measures aimed at portraying certain groups as threats to national security. In the second term, these policies have already been ramped up with the arbitrary detainment of immigrants legally in the US, here on student visas, or as visiting professors, and the threat of deportation, without due process, without charge, and cause. There is also the illegal deportation of immigrants to Cecot, an El Salvadoran prison with a reputation for its harsh conditions and violent human rights abuses, without due process.
His approach to foreign policy which often emphasizes a go-it-alone mentality and a disdain for multilateral institutions, also raises concerns about America’s standing in the global community. Whether it is annexing Greenland, forcing Canada to become the fifty-first state, invading Panama and seizing the canal, or permanently occupying Gaza, and forcibly removing Palestinians – all of which are a violation of international law. Authoritarian regimes tend to prioritize isolationist policies that center the leader’s own vision over global cooperation, further eroding democratic international relationships.
While Trump’s first term was undoubtedly unconventional, the second term is proving to be more dangerous and a departure from democratic norms., with a more consolidated base, fewer checks on his power, and a greater willingness to undermine core democratic principles. The first sixty days of the second term already resemble an authoritarian regime as he disregards the judicial branch, flipping off the rule of law, and allocating power to an unelected individual to do his worst across the board with no accountability and no limits – that is the definition of authoritarian rule.
The debacle that has been the seizure of the United States Institute of Peace, an NGO nonprofit organization that works to promote peace around the world, and the closure of USAID, leaving millions around the world who depend on life-saving aid and resources for deadly diseases and starvation, and the dismantling of the Department of Education, putting children at risk of their basic right to education, as well as the firing of vital employees at the NIH, CDC, and other institutions – it is already a mess. The practices are erratic and disorganized. It’s like a game where you pull a piece out of the tower to see how far you can go before everything collapses. It’s dangerous.
In the end, the question of whether the US will experience a shift toward authoritarianism under Trump depends largely on the actions of its leaders, citizens, and institutions. The potential for a more authoritarian rule is there, but it remains up to the people and their commitment to preserving the democratic ideals that have guided the nation for centuries.
With gratitude… Lara
Photo Credit: “Law and Order? We’re Not Holding Our Breath” by Outtacontext. Licensed under CC By NC ND 2.0
Lara Kajs is the founder and executive director of The Genocide Report, a nonprofit NGO in Washington DC. She is the author of Stories from Yemen: A Diary from the Field, and the forthcoming, Assad’s Syria: Displacement, Torture, and Mass Execution. Ms. Kajs frequently speaks about atrocity crimes, forced displacement, and international human rights. Follow and connect with Lara Kajs on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn