Second Trump Term Could Be Much, Much Worse
[Return to Not Going Back]
Even though Donald Trump did not become a dictator during his first term, there are big reasons to worry about what a second term would bring. We do not know that Trump will squelch democracy, but
Trump wants to run America like his own personal kingdom.
- Covets the power of strongmen like Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orban.
- Complained that “his” generals weren’t more like Hitler’s generals.
- Conservative generals who worked with him call him a “fascist” and a threat.
- When his minions were caught breaking the law, he pardoned them.
Many guardrails from his first term may be missing next time.
- Previous Trump appointees often chose not to follow orders that were illegal.
- If he returns, his appointees will be chosen based on their loyalty to him.
- He wants to replace federal workers with loyalists who will ignore the law for him.
Trump is telling us he will use office to punish enemies and expand his power.
- He uses hateful language like “radical leftwing lunatics” to describe his opponents.
- He threatens to prosecute political opponents.
- When president, he was stopped by his staff from prosecuting enemies.
- He said he would be dictator for one day, though later said he was only joking.
If he is returned to power after his assault on democracy, he will believe he is unstoppable. [Learn more]
Experts on fascism warned from the beginning that Trump was a threat to democracy. Now we have seen him actually attack our democratic system, and Trump voters are asking for more. The danger is that they may get the vindictive strongman rule Trump has been promising.
Photo credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo.