During the 2024 campaign, Donald Trump didn’t exactly make an effort to obscure his authoritarian instincts. He was, after all, the first presidential hopeful in American history to speak publicly about “terminating” parts of the Constitution that stand in the way of his ambitions and creating a temporary American “dictatorship.”
Voters either didn’t know, didn’t care or didn’t believe the Republican’s rhetoric, and Trump won a second term anyway, at which point he continued to add to this vision. Just one month into his second term, for example, the president described himself as a “king,” which came just four days after he similarly declared, “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.”
But every once in a while, Trump has a day — a single, 24-hour period — in which his authoritarian vision comes into sharp relief.
Sunday, April 13, in the evening: In response to CBS News’ “60 Minutes” airing a couple of segments that he didn’t like, the president accused the news program of “fraud,” airing “defamatory” segments, and being a “Political Operative” that has engaged in “unlawful and illegal behavior.” He added that CBS “should lose” its broadcast license and “pay a big price,” while calling on the FCC to “impose the maximum fines and punishment” because the network displeased him.
Sunday, April 13, in the evening: Asked about Russia’s latest deadly attack in Ukraine, Trump made excuses for the Putin regime, saying, “They made a mistake.”
Monday, April 14, midday: Trump claimed his administration lacks the authority to bring back Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom the president improperly sent to a Salvadoran prison, despite court orders instructing the administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return.
Monday, April 14, midday: Trump’s White House blocked Associated Press journalists from attending a presidential event, despite a court ruling instructing the president and his team to restore the AP’s access.
Monday, April 14, midday: Trump said he’s interested in sending American citizens to a Salvadoran prison, despite U.S. laws that prohibit such radicalism.
Monday, April 14, in the early evening: As part of his administration’s offensive against higher education in the United States, Trump froze more than $2 billion in grants to Harvard University because the school refused to accept a series of outlandish demands the White House hoped to impose on the institution. Individually, these developments are unsettling to those who take democracy seriously, but let’s not miss the forest for the trees: These aren’t just disconcerting stories; they’re collectively one dramatic story about a president who’s increasingly overt in his indifference to the American system and the rule of law. What’s more, this 24-hour period wasn’t especially unusual. Over the last 12 weeks, Americans have seen a great many days just like this one. Alas, there’s every reason to believe there will soon be many more, too.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."
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