Replacing officials, conquering the courts, destroying opponents: Donald the dictator

Dictator “on the first day”

His election victory would cause an earthquake not only in his own country, but worldwide. Never before has an American presidential candidate engaged in such an extreme program. Due to the alleged election fraud four years ago, he called for the suspension of the constitution. And he wants the Supreme Court to give full power to the president so he can take down his opponents.

Donald the Dictator? He himself had already commented on this topic and said that if he won the elections, he would at least play dictator “on day one”. Philipp Adorf (40), US expert at the University of Bonn, also says: “The tools to limit Trump’s autocratic impulses have been greatly weakened.”

Trump is prepared

According to Adorf, Trump is approaching a possible second term with a well-thought-out strategy, unlike his first. “In 2025, Trump would fill his cabinet with people who fully support him and his intentions,” says Adorf. Moreover, he plans to use an executive order to allow the layoff of tens of thousands of federal employees and fill these administrative positions with people who would guarantee the implementation of Trump’s plans. Trump people are already working on a variety of executive orders that Trump could implement on day one, Dictator Day.

The courts and Congress could put Trump in his place. So far, judges appointed by Trump have repeatedly ruled against lawsuits and initiatives from his environment. But would Trump as president still cling to unacceptable judgments? It reads coffee grounds. In such a case, relevant government authorities would be tasked with executing court orders. “But if Trump fills the administrative state with loyal personalities, there is a possibility that they will also do their utmost to delay or even suspend the implementation of a court ruling,” Adorf says.

It also appears that there is a Republican majority in the last controlling body, Congress. According to Adorf, the Republicans are the favorites in the House of Representatives. In the Senate, Trump’s vice president could tip the balance in the event of a stalemate.

MPs keep an eye on him behind him

During Trump’s term, Republicans in Congress sometimes counterbalanced Trump, especially on foreign policy, but that has now changed. Adorf: “Trump’s isolationist tendencies are now also widespread in the Republican congressional factions. In general, Republican representatives know that Trump is extremely popular within the electorate and that it is politically inadvisable to oppose Trump. Of the ten Republicans who voted in favor of renewed impeachment in January 2021, only two were re-elected in the 2022 midterm elections.

But before Donald becomes dictator, he must win the elections on November 5. Despite surveys and gambling trends, success is anything but certain. “I wouldn’t see him as a favorite,” says Philipp Adorf. “Trump will be in the public eye by the summer at the latest. Voters will then have to deal with his generally unpopular aggressive behavior and legal problems on a daily basis, meaning his poll numbers could fall.”