How Trump is Laying the Groundwork for a Post-Free America

After weeks of protests against ICE raids saw thousands take to the streets across California, growing resentment has given way to even bigger nationwide demonstrations in the form of the ‘No Kings’ movement. Anger at President Trump’s creeping authoritarianism is clearly palpable. Whilst figures vary, estimates suggest that on Saturday 14th June around 4-6 million people marched in protest, making it among the largest single-day demonstrations to occur in US history. 

Yet whilst opposition is building, America is still a long way off from unifying in defence of democracy. Indeed, various pro-MAGA groups have called for violence against protestors. With temperatures soaring both figuratively and literally, the danger that these swelling protests could lead to disaster is frighteningly real. The slightest utterance of support from Trump, serious or otherwise, could very well lead to outright civil unrest in the United States. 

Trump has certainly displayed his eagerness to appeal to his base. Referring to the ICE protests as “riots”, the president swiftly ordered the deployment of some 700 US marines and 2000 National Guard troops to California, despite Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections. As if being the first president to activate the National Guard without a governor’s consent in over 60 years wasn’t enough, Trump then threatened to arrest California’s governor. Though his administration later clarified that it would not be taking Newsom into custody, the desired effect of creating media panic had already been achieved. 

Though Trump’s penchant for petty feuds is nothing new, his strategy of deliberately stoking anger and chaos to forcibly impose his will demonstrates a far darker approach to ‘law and order’ compared to his first term as president. Starkest among these examples was his response to Charlottesville in 2017, in which a car ploughed into a crowd of protestors demonstrating against a white nationalist rally. Whereas here he happily turned a blind eye to violence, even commenting that there were “very fine people on both sides”, next time his support might be total. 

He certainly has form for doing this. His swift pardoning of 6th January 2021 Capitol rioters indicates that loyalty to him comes above morality. Together with his recent threats to impose the 1807 Insurrection Act and bring the full force of the US military down on protestors, it is becoming clear that for Trump, violence is justifiable as long as it’s in support of him. If it’s not, America needs ‘law and order’. All in all, one singular conclusion can be deduced: Trump equates power with absolute rule - and is not above using force and fear to achieve this. 

Despite this alarming situation, some still refuse to take him seriously. They argue that the president’s over-the-top response and aggressive rhetoric are simply bluster, a feature of his flamboyant personality. A new nickname has even been coined to reflect this sentiment. Enter ‘TACO’ (Trump Always Chickens Out). Originating from Trump’s frequent retreats on his tariff policy, the jibe now finds itself among the many personal barbs and insults which have littered the American political landscape in recent years. As can be expected, the media and opposition figures ran with it, effectively turning it into a joke. 

The danger here is that by quite literally making this a joke, we also trivialise the heightened risk that is now posed to democracy. Simply put, not taking Trump’s threats seriously may lead to catastrophic consequences. Whilst the trivialisation and mockery of political leaders have a healthy tradition within modern democracies, when democratic institutions and norms are directly challenged, society must endeavour to stay vigilant and not lose sight of that danger. 

Yet whilst we should assume the worst, nobody can truly predict the mind of Donald Trump or the possible outcomes of his administration. However, it would be prudent to reflect on the precedent that he has already set. Deploying National Guard troops without a governor’s approval was overreach on a massive scale. Typically, this power would be invoked during major catastrophes including natural disaster relief efforts and periods of widespread unrest such as the 2020 George Floyd protests. 

The justification given by Trump and MAGA for his decision to “liberate” California from Governor Newsom’s “migrant invasion” with federal troops represents a dangerous politicisation of executive power. Furthermore, the court decision to enable Trump to maintain direct control of these forces may further entrench the president’s belief that he can summon the National Guard at will. Under these circumstances, anything becomes an excuse to activate troop deployment on US soil. Moreover, his unchallenged threats to arrest a United States governor and denying elected officials the right to enter federal property lays the groundwork for further abuse of power in time to come. 

Whilst the future is uncertain, we are clearly in norm-setting territory. The Trump administration is putting US institutions and values under the ultimate stress test, one which could lay the groundwork for a post-free America. The racial element often behind Trump’s policies, and its potential implications, must also not be ignored. For as the US continues to diversify in population, the more politically toxic issues like immigration (both legal and illegal) will become, leading to greater risk that this will be weaponised by authoritarians eager to exploit a vulnerable system. It’s therefore vital that America doesn’t fumble its response to Trump. For even if he does not go as far as he has threatened to, one day someone else might.

Image: Flickr/The White House (Daniel Torok)

Licence: US Government work (public domain)

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