Trump and his associates are not concealing their intentions to undermine democracy if he secures victory in 2024, but is there any awareness or concern among the public?
With the election looming less than a year away, it’s evident that Donald Trump’s ambition extends beyond the presidency; he aspires to be a dictator.
Trump, having discarded any pretense of adhering to democratic norms, and his ardent supporters are openly pledging that his second term would mirror the authoritarian figures that Trump admired during his presidency.
If this seems like an exaggeration, it’s not. Trump openly acknowledges it.
In a recent interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, who posed mostly friendly questions, Trump was asked to assure that, if reelected, he had no intentions to misuse power, violate the law, or use government authority against individuals.
Trump responded, “You mean, like they’re using right now?” He proceeded to express dissatisfaction with his legal troubles and lauded Al Capone as “one of the greatest of all time, if you like criminals.”
Hannity made a second attempt: “Under no circumstances — you are promising America tonight — you would never abuse power as retribution against anybody?”
“Except for Day One,” Trump answered, and someone in the audience yelled, “Yeah!” He went on to express his desire to close the borders and emphasize the need to “drill, drill, drill.”
Trump has never exhibited any form of self-restraint when it comes to power, leaving no reason to believe that he would limit his actions to just one day. In fact, he and his allies are actively strategizing for a sustained dismantling of democracy.
In a recent interview, Kash Patel, a former member of Trump’s National Security Council, pledged to pursue legal action against individuals in the media whom he accuses of lying about American citizens and assisting in what he claims is Joe Biden’s manipulation of presidential elections. Patel clarified that they would explore both criminal and civil avenues for recourse.
Trump has expressed a strong desire to employ the Justice Department as a tool to target his political adversaries. This includes prosecuting former aides who have become critics and appointing a special prosecutor to investigate President Joe Biden and his family. However, such actions would require Trump to depart from established norms, potentially involving the Justice Department reporting directly to him, disrupting its customary impartial role.
Supporters of Trump are enthusiastically sharing details with the media about their initiative to vet potential political appointees using a questionnaire. The aim, according to one Trump supporter, is to ensure that appointees align with Trump’s viewpoints, particularly favoring sources like Tucker Carlson and avoiding references to past Republican figures such as Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush. These appointees are crucial as part of Trump’s strategy to dismiss thousands of civil servants and replace them with individuals loyal to him.
If any dissent arises, Trump has a plan to address it. He intends to invoke the Insurrection Act, deploying the military to suppress any public protests, even if it requires the use of weapons.
For LGBTQ+ rights, this could involve Trump reinstating the ban on transgender military personnel from his initial term. Although legal challenges may arise, Trump appears unconcerned about legal constraints. He might not wait for court resolutions, especially given his influence on the Supreme Court.
This is just one among several anti-trans policies that Trump intends to implement. In regular circumstances, some might never come to fruition as they necessitate Congressional approval, such as restricting care for transgender youth. However, Trump could potentially issue directives unilaterally to enact such measures.
In recent weeks, mainstream media has consistently highlighted the potential disastrous impact of Trump’s second term on democracy. The Atlantic dedicated a special issue featuring 24 articles outlining the detrimental effects of Trump’s re-election on various fronts, including the military and science. Even The New York Times, in its authoritative tone, portrayed a second Trump administration as designed to facilitate Trump’s “authoritarian tendencies.”
However, for many Americans, this doesn’t feel tangible. They perceive it as just another election cycle, with Trump making his usual controversial statements. The fact that he couldn’t fulfill a fraction of his promises during his first term has led people to view him more as a figure of rhetoric than one of action.
Yet, this time, Trump has purged the moderating voices that restrained him in his initial term. He seeks individuals who will unquestioningly endorse his every desire, ensuring that those desires are executed by those who share his views. In typical Trump fashion, the primary focus is on elevating himself, allowing his unchecked inclinations to take the forefront.
This is the individual who, at one point, remarked, “Well, Hitler did a lot of good things.” What could one anticipate from him if he had unrestricted power?
fleeredstates.blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.