A Divergence from Normal Politics

Trump’s Authoritarian Threat: A Brief Introduction

Trump’s Authoritarian Threat is suddenly a reality in the political life of the United States. The 2024 presidential election marked a dramatic but not surprising shift in American politics. President-elect Donald Trump’s early cabinet nominations and policy declarations reveal a strategy that diverges sharply from democratic norms. His choices and rhetoric signal a pivot toward authoritarianism, with profound

implications for the nation’s health, economy, global influence, and environment. This strategy, branded as a fight against the “deep state,”  (A false flag if there ever was one) risks dismantling vital institutions and consolidating power in ways unseen, and I would speculate,  unacceptable to a vast majority of American citizens,  in modern U.S. history.

Trump’s Authoritarian Threat in Leadership Appointments

Matt Gaetz’ as Attorney General

Trump’s cabinet nominations are not merely unconventional; they embody his intent to reshape governance through loyalty and ideological purity. Consider Matt Gaetz, a controversial figure nominated for Attorney General. Facing allegations of misconduct, Gaetz’s primary qualification appears to be his unwavering allegiance to Trump. His public calls to abolish the FBI and defund federal agencies threaten to destabilize the justice system, creating a vacuum where corruption and autocracy could thrive. For a convicted felon as President Elect to appoint an Attorney General that is under serious investigation for sex trafficking underage girls and for his own violation of underage girls is the obvious act of intentionality designed to demonstrate unchallenged power and total disregard for ethics and morals the nation has witnessed in a long time.

Tulsi Gabbard’s Nomination as Director of National Intelligence

Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination as Director of National Intelligence follows a similar pattern. Known for her controversial positions, including aligning with authoritarian figures like Bashar al-Assad, Gabbard’s leadership risks alienating allies and jeopardizing intelligence-sharing networks. This erosion of trust could likely leave the United States vulnerable to threats, both domestic and international.

Anti-Vaxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s appointment to lead HHS

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, further exemplifies this strategy. As a vocal critic of vaccines, his policies could undermine public health, derailing vital research and reversing decades of progress in disease prevention. His past conspiracy-laden remarks about vaccines and public health reveal an

alarming disregard for science, which could accelerate declining vaccination rates and spark preventable outbreaks. Do we really want to bring the threat of polio, smallpox, whooping cough, and more because of an anti-vaccine HHS Chair ignoring empirical evidence in favor of his pet conspiracy theory. The theory that vaccines cause autism has long been shown to be pure bunk. Yet here we would have an HHS Chief that would return us to fear the diseases that decimate our children and many adults. I wish to suggest that this is absolutely  intolerable.

 Trump’s Authoritarian Threat to Health, Economy, and Global Influence

Endangering Public Health

Trump’s administration promises to jeopardize public health, but its implications stretch further. For example, appointing Pete Hegseth, a Fox News commentator, to lead the Department of Defense raises concerns about the military’s independence. Hegseth has openly questioned the value of women in combat and endorsed pardoning troops accused of war crimes, signaling a militarized culture that prioritizes political loyalty over accountability. Such moves risk demoralizing service members and harming international alliances. I do not think that even the majority of Trump voters would support such radical approaches to military strength.

Elon Musk and the Push to Privatization

Economically, Trump’s plans, including creating an “efficiency” agency advised by Elon Musk, could result in drastic budget cuts targeting social safety nets while benefiting corporations and the wealthy. Musk’s push for privatization aligns with Trump’s preference for corporate dominance over public welfare. This approach mirrors Trump’s first term, which cut environmental protections to favor fossil fuels, escalating the climate crisis. Going down this road in the past left us with for profit medicare advantage programs, steep co-pays for seniors, and the Medicare doughnut hole for outrageously expensive medications leaving many having to make the decision to pay for food or medicine.

The Nomination Disregarding International Norms

Internationally, Trump’s nomination of an evangelical preacher to serve as ambassador to Israel underscores his disregard for diplomatic norms. This choice threatens to inflame tensions in the Middle East, isolating the U.S. from allies who view such appointments as provocative. With escalating conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, Trump’s policies could erode America’s role as a global stabilizer. Once again, this appears to be an intentional move to separate the United States from the world community with the potential of bringing us closer to war than we were in 1940.

Environmental Crisis Under Trump’s Authoritarian Threat

The Trump administration’s prioritization of fossil fuels over sustainable energy reflects its disdain for environmental preservation. During his first term, Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement and rolled back numerous regulations. His second term promises more aggressive deregulation, likely accelerating climate change and environmental degradation. The fossil fuel industry, emboldened by Trump’s policies, stands to profit at the expense of public health and ecological stability. If there is a greater existential threat beyond allowing dreaded disease to return, it is the threat that is destroying 10,000 years of stable weather, only to be undermined by the fossil fuel industry without blinking an eye. Greed over health, profits over people, and lies over facts make this possible.

Addressing Public Education in Trump’s Authoritarian Agenda

Trump’s education policies could further marginalize public schools, exacerbating inequality. His support for school vouchers and privatization diverts funds from underfunded public schools, disproportionately affecting low-income and minority communities. By undermining factual education and promoting political ideologies, his administration risks creating a populace less equipped to challenge autocratic rule. John Dewey argued at the beginning of the 20th century C.E. that the very wealthy is obligated to contribute to educational excellence for even the most economically challenged children, the same education they want for their own children.

This drive to privatize education led by conservative Christians has been on the lips of the Republican party since the emergence of St. Ronald Reagan took office in 1981. Now they have the chance to make it a reality. Dewey’s point was simply this, in order to sustain a democratic republic as outlined in the Constitution of the United States, the populace must provide the best education available for children, especially in history and civics without regard to economic influence. I must say, as a former professor of Education in the United States, I am in complete agreement with John Dewey. We will fail as a nation if we do not halt the trend toward reducing education to a commodity available only to the very wealthy 1% of the population.

The Role of Congress and Courts Against Trump’s Authoritarian Threat

Congress and the judiciary hold the power to curb Trump’s authoritarian tendencies. However, these institutions face immense challenges. A Republican-controlled Congress may lack the will to challenge Trump’s overreach, particularly when loyalty to party outweighs loyalty to the Constitution. The courts, though historically resilient, could falter under pressure from Trump-appointed judges, many of whom share his ideological leanings.

Trump has already laid the groundwork for autocracy. His campaign rallies featured calls to jail political rivals, dismantle federal agencies, and consolidate executive power. These actions echo the playbook of authoritarian leaders worldwide, who undermine democratic norms to entrench their rule. Remember the days when the slogan “Better dead than Red” was the anti communist anthem. The authoritarianism of the Soviet Union and the cold war was an early warning of the dangers of authoritarian governance.

Yet here we are about to be governed by an individual who defies all Constitutional safeguards and a Republican Party willing to govern by fear of the ‘fearless leader.” I can and often do draw a straight line to Ronald Reagan’s administration and the application of Randian self-interest into the politics of the United States.  also, I am awestruck by the predictions made by Karl Mark as to the trends of Late Stage Capitalism that predicted the current conditions in which the ultra rich rule in an oligarchy of greed over the 99% of us that are not so fortunate. I regret that Marx was a prophet but without a meaningful solution.

Conclusion: The Stakes of Trump’s Authoritarian Threat

Trump’s approach to governance represents a stark departure from the principles that underpin American democracy. His appointments, policies, and rhetoric threaten to erode the checks and balances designed to prevent autocratic rule. If left unchecked, his administration could undermine public health, destabilize the economy, and weaken global alliances, leaving lasting damage to the environment and public education.

This moment demands vigilance from Congress, the courts, and the American people. Democracy thrives on accountability, but without robust resistance, Trump’s second term could permanently alter the fabric of the nation. The cost of inaction is too high to bear.

Sources Cited

Gostin, L. (2023). The Public Health Crisis and Vaccine Hesitancy.

Troye, O. (2024). National Security Under Threat: A Warning.

Goldsmith, K. (2024). Military Leadership in the Age of Trump.

Suggestions for Further Reading

Levitsky, S., & Ziblatt, D. (2018). How Democracies Die. A vital exploration of how democracies can falter under authoritarian threats. 

Snyder, T. (2017). On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. A concise guide to resisting authoritarianism. 

Mann, M., & Ornstein, N. (2016). It’s Even Worse Than It Looks. An analysis of political dysfunction in the U.S. 

Friedman, T. (2020). Thank You for Being Late. Examines global challenges and the need for leadership. 

Glaude Jr., E. (2020). Begin Again. Reflects on democracy and racial justice in America.

Fukuyama, F. (2018). Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment. Explores identity politics and its consequences. 

Klein, N. (2019). On Fire: The Burning Case for a Green New Deal. Discusses the urgency of climate action. 

Ricks, T. (2017). Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom. Highlights historical resistance to authoritarianism. 

Diamond, J. (2005). Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. Examines societal challenges through history. 

Disclaimer: The images and videos in this post are AI-generated creations, intended purely for illustrative and conceptual purposes. They are not real-life representations and should not be interpreted as such. Their sole purpose is to offer a visual means of exploring the topics discussed in this post.