By Kenneth Tiven
In his first 50 days back in power, Donald Trump seems focused on proving to Americans and the global community that the answer is yes. The world ahead appears poised for a seismic shift, one that disregards the post-World War II order and its values of international cooperation and democratic stability.
Trump’s open admiration of authoritarianism is clear in his vocal praise for leaders like Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, and Viktor Orbán. His premeditated and impolite Oval Office bullying of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sabotaged peace talks with Russia.
Cutting Aid, Cutting Ties
Trump’s decision to halt all aid to Ukraine followed shortly after. Given the American relationship with NATO and European security, this decision seemed inevitable. Yet Trump’s unexplained push for rapprochement with Russia raises questions about his motives.
A right-wing supporter defended Trump’s stance, claiming the US had already given billions to Ukraine. In reality, much of that aid came in the form of weapons and ammunition from existing US stockpiles—funds spent replenishing those stockpiles flow back to American defense contractors, supporting domestic jobs.
Fake Savings
Trump’s chaotic decision-making appears designed to dismantle domestic and international programmes by stripping expertise and staffing. Moreover, many US aid programmes are structured to benefit American farmers and businesses.
The claim that this is a cost-saving measure is misleading. Trump’s true aim seems to be securing his proposed $2 trillion in tax cuts—a giveaway to wealthy oligarchs who back him politically.
This fire hose assault on government norms masks an underlying reality: Trump’s reliance on executive orders to bypass Congressional debate. Federal courts have repeatedly ruled against Trump’s abuses of power, but enforcement remains weak. His long-standing strategy—from his business days onward—has been to deny, delay, and outlast legal challenges.
Authoritarian Echoes
Ignoring procedural protections is straight out of Viktor Orbán’s playbook. As Hungary’s prime minister consolidated authoritarian control, he systematically dismantled democratic institutions—a path Trump seems determined to follow.
With his inner circle strategizing for years on how to bypass First Amendment protections and constitutional checks, Trump’s administration thrives on confrontation. His willingness to pardon loyalists caught breaking the law signals his disdain for legal accountability.
Targeting Institutions
Trump’s vendetta extends to institutions he dislikes or fails to understand. Law firms, universities, unions, and non-profit staff are all targets of his ire.
Chilling The Law Firms
Trump’s obsession with retribution is evident in his aggressive targeting of Perkins Coie, a prominent Washington law firm with roughly 1,000 staff, mostly lawyers.
The White House fabricated a “security risk” claim against Perkins Coie, suspending their security clearances and barring the government from hiring its employees without special waivers. A directive even threatened to block Perkins Coie attorneys from accessing federal courthouses—a chilling attack on due process.
Covington & Burling LLP, another prominent firm, faces similar treatment. Trump’s directive ordered the suspension of clearances for all Covington staff who assisted Special Counsel Jack Smith. Covington’s reputation for pro bono work and its connections to Democratic administrations seem to have triggered Trump’s wrath.
Forget Due Process: Targeting Universities
Trump’s administration targeted Columbia University by cancelling $400 million in federal grants, citing “inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students”. The move, characterized as punitive rather than protective, coincides with Trump’s broader push to undermine diversity initiatives in higher education.
Forget Due Process: Part Two
The administration’s assault on unions has been equally ruthless. The TSA union, representing 47,000 officers, faced fabricated allegations about union officials—an obvious pretext for weakening organized labour.
The Homeland Security Administration cited the presence of just 200 TSA officers dedicated to union matters (a minuscule 0.2 percent of the workforce) as justification for dismantling union protections. This anti-union rhetoric mirrors the playbook popularized by Trump-aligned figures like Elon Musk: suppress worker rights in the name of “efficiency” while curtailing labour influence.
Defining Rights And Values
Trump’s pattern of scapegoating has long been a defining feature of his political persona. Now, with a “royal can we get away with it” attitude, his administration openly undermines American values—values that are legally enshrined to protect inclusion, not exclusion.
Historical parallels are stark. During World War II, a frightened America deprived Japanese Americans of their liberties, delaying reparations for decades. Trump’s brazen assault on constitutional rights—without meaningful economic planning—reveals an empathy-free administration driven by his own insecurities and vendettas.
—The writer has worked in senior positions at The Washington Post, NBC, ABC and CNN and also consults for several Indian channels
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