Donald Trump’s Constant Lawbreaking: Destruction of Seemingly Strong Democracy

You can watch the transformation of the United States into an authoritarian state in real time right now. Those who are facing an acute threat need our full support.

Donald Trump is dismantling the American rule of law with unprecedented speed. This is not limited to the latest case of illegally deporting Venezuelan citizens to El Salvador, but in almost all policy areas — the U.S. president disregards the law, the authority of Congress, and even emergency court orders. With the help of Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency, Trump is creating facts and destroying government institutions that remain broken even after courts subsequently order that wrongfully fired employees must be reinstated.

Trump disregards congressional authority to oversee spending and is shutting down programs that Congress approved. This is destroying science, culture, environmental protection and international development. He is using the FBI and the Department of Justice to intimidate political opponents. He is discriminating against every minority that may have benefited from government support programs over the last three-quarters of a century, including Black people, Latinos, people of color, queer and trans individuals, and women. The list is endless. The courts can’t keep up with the multitude of blatant violations, managing to catch up after the damage is done.

Last year’s Supreme Court decision granting Trump full immunity for offenses committed in office is showing its devastating impact. The political composition of Congress only makes it worse. The Democratic opposition leadership is responding cowardly and toothlessly — as one could see during Friday’s Senate vote on government funding, which amounts to an enabling act.

In contrast, the Republican majority has ceded all autonomy to King Trump. Added to this is a rapidly growing MAGA propaganda machine, which, under the guise of journalism, is slowly taking over reporters’ seats in the White House press room.

Anyone who has ever wondered what it looks like when a seemingly strong and stable democracy is destroyed at breakneck speed and turned into a modern version of fascist authoritarianism can see it firsthand right now. But watching it isn’t enough: Those people whose livelihoods are being destroyed need our full support, including support from abroad. And anyone who still views “woke” politics as the greatest evil here in Germany has to ask themselves whether they’re out of their minds.