Trump’s Actions Raise Concerns Over US Authoritarian Drift

Donald Trump's return to the White House has intensified concerns about an authoritarian drift in the U.S. government, as he has increasingly used executive orders to bypass Congress and defy judicial rulings, raising alarms about potential constitutional crises. His recent comments calling for the impeachment of a federal judge who halted the deportation of Venezuelans prompted a rare defense of judicial independence from Chief Justice John Roberts. Critics highlight that Trump's actions, along with a rightwing media ecosystem, are normalizing authoritarian practices, thereby jeopardizing democracy in America. Concurrently, Rep. Celeste Maloy expressed similar worries about the executive branch's overreach, indicating that concerns about authoritarianism extend beyond Trump’s presidency. In Indonesia, a recent parliamentary decision to expand military roles in government has sparked protests and fears of a return to authoritarianism reminiscent of the Suharto era, reflecting a global trend of democratic backsliding. These developments underscore a growing anxiety regarding the balance of power and democratic integrity both in the U.S. and abroad.