A month into his second term, Donald Trump has reshaped American administration in his own image — imperious, unrestrained, and insulated from institutional checks. With party-line polarisation paralysing Congress and the courts, he’s ruling with unchecked authority, raising fears that the American Republic is inching towards a Caesar’s Rome-like fate
America’s founding fathers modelled it on ancient Rome. Democracy, Congress, rule of law, separation of powers. They even picked an eagle for their national symbol. But it had to be Rome of the Republic, led by consuls, not Caesar. Trump in the first month of his second term has been Caesar for all practical purposes though. Putting seasoned toga wearers to pasture, he’s surrounded himself with a cabinet whose members’ qualifications raise eyebrows, leading many to ask if this is American democracy’s darkest hour.
One-man show
Trump’s proclivity to order, not consult, has been on display daily. Where he’s delegated work, it is to his henchman Elon Musk. He’s aiming to cast America in his mould, and perhaps mindful of his age and the two-term constitutional limit, he’s in a tearing hurry. Hence, the spate of legally questionable actions, such as:
One-man show
Trump’s proclivity to order, not consult, has been on display daily. Where he’s delegated work, it is to his henchman Elon Musk. He’s aiming to cast America in his mould, and perhaps mindful of his age and the two-term constitutional limit, he’s in a tearing hurry. Hence, the spate of legally questionable actions, such as: