Explore the growth of executive power during Trump’s second term, its implications, and the potential impact on American governance.
Throughout history, presidents have often sought to extend their executive powers to achieve specific goals, particularly during times of national crisis such as the Civil War or the Great Depression. However, President Trump’s approach in the early days of his second term stands out due to its extraordinary intensity and scale. His actions represent an unmatched assault on legal checks and balances without a corresponding national catastrophe to justify such measures.
As Jack Goldsmith, a Harvard Law School professor and former senior official in the George W. Bush administration, observes, “They are attempting a moonshot on executive power.” This unprecedented surge of authority tests the very foundations of American democracy and challenges the traditional role of checks and balances designed to prevent the over-concentration of executive power.
President Trump’s combative approach to presidential politics involves an aggressive campaign against institutional counterweights to his authority. This includes targeting judges, bypassing Congress’s constitutional role in managing fiscal matters, and undermining internal executive branch constraints. Moreover, he has utilized governmental power to exert pressure on external entities like law firms and universities, compelling them to yield to his demands.
Akhil Reed Amar, a Yale Law School professor, characterizes the administration’s broader strategy as “proudly lawless and anti-law.” He warns of the inherent danger: “Trump, as the most powerful individual on the global stage, exhibits limited self-restraint and is unlikely to change.”
Yorum Yap