Asger Risom
Experts say President Donald Trump is dismantling democratic norms faster than expected, with arrests, military deployments, and legal power grabs fueling comparisons to global autocrats.
Just five months into his second term, Donald Trump’s presidency is drawing intensifying warnings from legal scholars, political scientists, and former diplomats.
As reported by Digi24, observers argue that the United States is sliding toward authoritarianism more quickly than even pessimists had imagined.
Mass Arrests, Military Power, and Eroding Norms
Trump has mobilized the National Guard and active-duty Marines to suppress immigration protests in Los Angeles—against the governor’s will.
Critics cite scenes of masked ICE agents abducting people in public and opposition politicians, including Senator Alex Padilla, being handcuffed for questioning federal policy.
Even a judge has been arrested in court for allegedly helping a defendant evade detention.
The administration’s legal maneuvering is equally troubling.
A top adviser has suggested suspending habeas corpus, and Trump has invoked emergency powers to bypass state authority and enact sweeping deportations.
Analysts warn that the tactics mirror those used by authoritarian regimes, with parallels drawn to leaders like Putin, Orbán, and Erdoğan.
A System Under Pressure
Scholars such as Steven Levitsky and Kim Lane Scheppele argue that Trump’s strategy depends on seizing control of the military and exploiting legal loopholes.
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority, shaped by Trump’s first term, is viewed as unlikely to block these efforts.
Political violence is also on the rise. Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman was assassinated in what police call a politically motivated killing.
Another legislator and his wife were injured in a related attack, while the suspect allegedly had a hit list of Democratic officials.
A recent Bright Line Watch survey gave U.S. democracy its lowest rating since 2017, with further decline expected.
Experts like Brendan Nyhan warn the democratic erosion could accelerate—especially if Trump expands emergency powers or tampers with upcoming elections.
While the full extent of the damage remains to be seen, analysts agree on one point: America is in a fragile place, and the next few years could define its democratic future.