Opinion: When Trump speaks, trust it
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, it's crucial to scrutinize Donald Trump's words closely Julian Zelizer emphasizes the significance of Trump's rhetoric in reclaiming power Stay informed, as this piece delves into the implications of his statements
Julian Zelizer, a CNN political analyst and professor at Princeton University, notes that Donald Trump has demonstrated his follow-through on his promises throughout his presidency.
Recent comments by Trump, the frontrunner in the Republican primary for the 2024 presidential election, have once again shocked the political world. On Veterans Day, Trump referred to his adversaries as "vermin" and made intentions to target his opponents if he were to regain power. He also stated that the threat from within the country is more concerning than external threats. Trump's rhetoric, which once focused on the dangers of illegal immigrants, has now shifted to targeting his domestic opponents. It's crucial to recognize that Trump's words are not just a ploy to rally support and intimidate dissenters, but also reflect a wider ambition to expand presidential authority. This is not only an imminent danger due to a potential Trump presidency, but also sets a worrisome precedent for future leaders.
Former President Donald Trump speaks to Texas state troopers and guardsmen at the South Texas International Airport on Sunday, November 19, in Edinburg, Texas.
Eric Gay/AP
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Trump and the Heritage Foundation are collaborating on a plan to appoint loyalists to key agency positions. This includes screening a large number of individuals to ensure they will follow his directives as president. Additionally, Trump is considering issuing numerous pardons to reverse the efforts of the Department of Justice under President Joe Biden, particularly in prosecuting him, his advisors, and his allies. He aims to have the authority to eliminate labor protections for the civil service, allowing him to hire and fire federal workers at his discretion. Furthermore, Trump plans to expand his influence in the field of education. He also intends to deploy federal prosecutors to address local crime, and tighten control over the Department of Justice from the White House, further eroding the separation that has existed since Watergate.
If anyone has missed the comparison to President Richard Nixon, consider that Trump may once again impound congressional funds, refusing to spend money allocated by the House and Senate. This action is reminiscent of the impoundments that led to major reforms in 1974, centralizing the budget process and limiting the use of impoundments. According to The New York Times, Trump and his associates seek to "shift the balance of power by expanding the president's authority over all parts of the federal government that currently operate independently from political interference by the White House, either by law or tradition, according to a review of his campaign proposals and interviews with people close to him."
To accomplish this, the Times reported, "Mr. Trump plans to place independent agencies like the Federal Communications Commission, responsible for creating and enforcing regulations for television and internet companies, and the Federal Trade Commission, responsible for enforcing antitrust and other consumer protection rules against businesses, under direct presidential control."
Donald Trump, the former President and Republican candidate for President, addresses his supporters at the Florida Freedom Summit in Kissimmee, Florida on November 4th. The event took place at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center. (Photo: Octavio Jones/Reuters)
The claim of Trump about terrorism is absurd. The increasing authority of the presidency is not new, and it is not exclusive to Republicans. Executive power has been steadily growing since the establishment of the republic, with a significant acceleration in the 1930s and 1940s when President Franklin Roosevelt expanded the executive branch greatly.
While liberals had once supported this power as an important means of centralization to enable strong leadership in addressing the nation's needs, their hope turned to fear when Nixon demonstrated how this authority could be misused to target opponents, reward loyal supporters, and conduct illicit and illegal operations. As the Watergate investigation unfolded, historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. admitted that he had previously underestimated the dangers of empowering presidents before writing his 1973 book, "Imperial Presidency."
Despite Congress enacting a series of reforms in the 1970s, such as the 1973 War Powers Act that restricted the presidency, the institution continued to expand its authority in the following decades. Some reforms, like the 1978 law establishing an independent prosecutor to investigate certain executive branch allegations, expired. Others were reversed or proved to be ineffective.
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, President George W. Bush advocated for a significant increase in executive authority, citing the need to safeguard national security.
The use of presidential power has not been limited to one political party. Democrats have also utilized this authority for their own objectives. When faced with resistance from the Republican Congress, President Bill Clinton utilized executive actions to enhance federal environmental programs. More recently, Biden relied on executive power to promote a student loan forgiveness program, which was ultimately overturned by the courts.
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Trump has demonstrated a willingness to disregard established institutions and norms, from using foreign aid to gather information on political opponents to rejecting the legitimate election results. He has consistently used his platform to target adversaries and provoke his supporters. However, the extent of his ability to wield power was revealed by the findings of January 6, which showed a well-coordinated and comprehensive plan to overturn the 2020 election results. This was not just another instance of chaotic behavior, but rather a calculated effort, as determined by multiple congressional and legal investigations.
Without the efforts of key individuals, including former Vice President Mike Pence and numerous federal judges, the plan could have succeeded. The key takeaway is not that the system functioned as it should, but rather how close we were to a complete disaster and how our democracy relied on people doing the right thing at the right time.
Voters need to be vigilant now. When presidents misuse their powers, it not only presents an immediate danger but also leads to a long-term expansion of power that is seldom rolled back. When Trump disregards governing norms, he sets dangerous new precedents.
