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When Trump began to show admiration for autocrats around the world, I thought he was simply revealing his inexperience in foreign policy matters. I passed off his chumminess with the leaders of North Korea and Turkey as playing to the cameras and he would certainly understand that diplomacy is more than flattery. But he continued to express admiration for autocratic leaders like Xi of China, Putin of Russia and dictator wannabes like Bolsonaro of Brazil. I have become convinced that he sees himself as someone who should take a more autocratic position as POTUS and has thrown out ways to make it so.
I believe the first definitive declaration by Trump in this regard was his statement a year ago that the Constitution in Article II gives him the right to do "anything I want to do" as president. Then in April of this year, he told America that "when somebody is President of the United States, the authority is total." He dropped any pretense that he wants to protect the rule of law and abide by the Constitution. So he does an end run around Congress and reallocates funds intended for another purpose to more construction of his wall. Congress said no, but he can do what he wants apparently and the judiciary let him do it.
Now he signs a series of executive orders usurping congressional authority over taxation and appropriation of funds. He has no legal authority to direct funds for the payment of unemployment benefits and his order regarding the deferment of payroll taxes is as illegal as it is absurd. But having the authority to do things doesn't matter to a man who believes his authority is total and that he can do anything he wants. Add to these things his attempts to sidestep election laws, his interference with the US Postal Service, his willingness to ignore commitments to foreign governments and nations and a desire to use division among Americans to bolster his own position. He is an autocrat. He just hasn't hit on the right mechanism with which to solidify his power and hold onto his office indefinitely.
I believe the first definitive declaration by Trump in this regard was his statement a year ago that the Constitution in Article II gives him the right to do "anything I want to do" as president. Then in April of this year, he told America that "when somebody is President of the United States, the authority is total." He dropped any pretense that he wants to protect the rule of law and abide by the Constitution. So he does an end run around Congress and reallocates funds intended for another purpose to more construction of his wall. Congress said no, but he can do what he wants apparently and the judiciary let him do it.
Now he signs a series of executive orders usurping congressional authority over taxation and appropriation of funds. He has no legal authority to direct funds for the payment of unemployment benefits and his order regarding the deferment of payroll taxes is as illegal as it is absurd. But having the authority to do things doesn't matter to a man who believes his authority is total and that he can do anything he wants. Add to these things his attempts to sidestep election laws, his interference with the US Postal Service, his willingness to ignore commitments to foreign governments and nations and a desire to use division among Americans to bolster his own position. He is an autocrat. He just hasn't hit on the right mechanism with which to solidify his power and hold onto his office indefinitely.
