There’s no doubt – he’s back. As I wrote before, the man who delights in shocking us has returned as captain of our ship, and he’s heading us straight for the rocks. Going after perceived “opponents”, be it Democrats, immigrants, the previous administration, judges, museums, colleges and universities, even law firms. Let’s slash and burn to save money. Except for a staggering amount on a military parade that nobody wants but him. A show of power and, dare I say it, ego. Yes, Hitler, Putin, and Kim Jong Un have done it too. Vintage Trump. MAGA has become synonymous with “Take Control and Run Roughshod”.
Since he took office in January, he has signed 152 executive orders, 39 memoranda, and 54 proclamations, proudly declaring that Americans gave him a “mandate”. (By way of context, and for the record, he swept the popular vote by a truly mind-blowing 1.5% margin. For comparison, Richard Nixon beat George McGovern by just over 23% in 1972. Ronald Reagan won his second term by almost 59% of the popular vote over former Vice President Walter Mondale, and Mondale only captured 13 votes in the Electoral College.) So, with this new “mandate”, President Trump really doesn’t need Congress. The Constitution either. “Birthright Citizenship” is clearly spelled out in the 14th Amendment, which states that citizenship is acquired in one of two ways – a person is born in the US and its territories, or at least one parent is an American citizen. This was passed just after the Civil War, and its intent was clear – former slaves would automatically become citizens. It was meant to negate the flurry of state legislation prohibiting citizenship rights to African Americans. No matter, contend Republicans, that’s not what post-Civil War legislators really meant. He’ll just “do it” and let the courts tell them to stop.
There has been a barrage of back-and-forth, squirrel-like scurrying as decisions are made, rescinded, and blocked by the courts. The tariffs are an example. One day, they’re in. Then, they’re reduced. Then, they’re back. An interesting conflict is developing with Walmart. Because, in fairness, he was voted in on a platform of lowering prices, and for most consumer goods, that hasn’t happened. Food and housing prices continue to spike. The Walmart CEO warned that their prices will be going up, because, of course, most of what’s on their shelves comes from China. Mr. Trump issued a stern rebuke, telling Walmart to just “absorb the cost increase.” Once again, a problem that he created is someone else’s problem. Federal employees continue to scramble, their jobs uncertain from day to day, hour to hour. Although some are trickling back as the courts are stepping in. My guess is that we’ll see a dramatic increase in the backlog of court cases in these four years, as lawsuits against the administration fill courthouses across the country. Maybe this will be a good time to consider a career in the legal profession. His Department of Government Efficiency, and Elon Musk, who has become the Cardinal Richelieu of the Trump White House, has told us repeatedly that his cuts so far have saved the taxpayer $170 billion. Cheering from the Trump peanut gallery, but in reality, the “receipts” show less than half of that, and even them, many claimed savings are suspect. Now, we’re going to take on the big entitlement programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. Except that most voting districts across the country have scores of recipients, all potentially lost votes for Republicans running for reelection in 2026. Spending the government’s money is Congress’ job. Once again, Trump has demonstrated that he’s not absolutely clear on the roles of each branch of government. Congress sets policy through legislation, and determines allocations of money. The Executive branch carries out those policies, and oversees the funding that Congress has approved. And the Judicial determines that which is legal and that which isn’t. Clearly defined. The Constitution, nor acts of Congress, allow those outside individuals to demand official government records and documents, to interfere with normal government operations, or to even ask federal employees what they do.
As the piles of executive orders grow, they tell us more about what Mr. Trump doesn’t like, or offends him, rather than what he does.
He doesn’t like diversity. Mr. Trump has issued decrees banning any policies in government departments that mention diversity and/or equity, and has revoked funding grants for colleges and universities that don’t follow his lead. Apparently, in his view, all Venezuelans are “gang members” and should be deported. In fact, anyone with darker skin than his make-up is undesirable. If one is fleeing violence and oppression in Haiti or Central America, “you’re not wanted here” is his message. If, however, you’re white and South African, come on over. You’ll blend in nicely.
He also doesn’t particularly care for non-rich people. His advisors and appointees include more than a dozen billionaires. We should expect that, like his tax overhaul of 2017, new policies and regulation-cutting will favor those with money – lots of it. We remember Betsy DeVos, the Secretary of Education in his first term, pushing for-profit schools (and denying debt-forgiveness when those schools went belly-up), private schools and vouchers. This time, he’s appointed a billionaire donor from the world of professional wrestling, who’s mission, apparently, is to abolish the department altogether.
He doesn’t put much “stock” in alternative energy sources, or the development thereof. His pick of Chris Wright, a man right out of the fossil fuel industry and an advocate of “fracking”, to be Energy Secretary, isn’t likely to advance anything new. He’s taken the US out, again, of the Paris Climate Agreement, and issued an executive order that cancelled funding for wind turbines, solar energy, and other energy development projects. Pleasant news for the Chinese, virtually “passing the ball” on to them to develop the globe’s new sources of energy when oil and gas run out, which they will.
He doesn’t place much value on medical research, having put a freeze on funding grants by the National Institute of Health for the development of new medications, vaccines, and treatment programs. Included were cancer treatments and possible immunizations for new global infectious diseases should they come along, which they will, and withdrawn the US from the World Health Organization, which shares vital information among its member countries. His Secretary of Health and Human Services has issued new marching orders to remove fluoride from drinking water, based on a variety of conspiracy theories and unproved medical information.
He also doesn’t care much for foreign aid, even though it funds feeding the starving, accurate transfers of information, medical care, preventing pollution, and education in poor and developing countries, the world’s good will isn’t that important. What is important is that he’s the “deal maker”. Like selling AI and other important technological innovations to Arab countries with ties to China. Let’s see how long our innovation advantage holds up. But that’s unimportant, because he got a free jet out of the deal. And, he’s building meaningful, solid relationships with, well, authoritarian regimes.
It won’t be tomorrow, or even in a month or two. But the craziness will catch up with us. The disruptions in which Mr. Trump delights will manifest themselves negatively, and it will get ugly. It did before, and it’s starting again. Americans that voted for him, confident that he would bring down prices, that he’d boost the economy that’s now headed toward recession, and mass deportations of people, many of whom are here legally, with the courts are supporting them, will find themselves sadly disillusioned, as they did when the pandemic hit and the government was completely unprepared. When knowledge and experience are replaced by loyalty, friendship, and donations, it’s bound to happen. Voter disillusion may even show up in the next mid-term election. The political pendulum will, as it always does, swing back. But, in the meantime, President Trump and his supporters, like the Puritans of early New England, as author Stacy Schiff described them, “defined by that which offends them.”
I'm Thinking...No! 