The Would-Be King: Trump’s Unprecedented Power Grab

In his first whirlwind month back in office, Donald Trump has thrilled his base and stunned his opponents. Through an aggressive flurry of executive actions, he is attempting to transform the presidency into the dominant branch of government. The pressing question is: how far will he go before he is checked—if he is checked—and what will be left of the republic when the dust settles?

The Battle for America’s Future

This struggle transcends mere policy; it is a contest over the fundamental character of the nation. President Trump claims to be rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal bureaucracy, while his critics warn he is dismantling the government itself. He asserts he is fostering peace abroad and prosperity at home; they argue he is undermining alliances that sustain the Western order. He promises to restore American greatness; they fear he is steering the nation toward a constitutional crisis—or worse, a Trumpian autocracy.

Trump’s every move reinforces his belief that power is personally vested in him. Disregarding legislative authority, he governs by executive decree, asserting that the president can withhold funds allocated by Congress. Historically, the framers designed Congress to be the most powerful branch, yet Trump’s actions threaten to diminish its role significantly. His 70-plus executive orders, some blatantly unconstitutional, suggest he is preparing for a confrontation with the judiciary as well.

Concentration of Power

Everywhere, the pattern is the same. Government agencies are thrown into turmoil, partly to underscore Trump’s control. The Washington Post reports that candidates for senior intelligence and law enforcement roles are being asked if they endorse Trump’s false claim of victory in the 2020 election. Post-Watergate safeguards meant to separate the Department of Justice from political influence have been swept away. In one of its first acts, the department urged prosecutors to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams—though only as long as Adams remains aligned with Trump’s agenda.

In foreign affairs, Trump is eager to abandon long-standing commitments. The U.S. has withdrawn from international organizations like the World Health Organization, in part to evade obligations. He leverages tariff threats to extract concessions from foreign governments, a tactic that consolidates his domestic authority by creating a network of dependent business interests. Meanwhile, he openly courts Russia, treating America’s European alliances as bargaining chips.

A Historical Perspective

Trump’s ambitions may seem unprecedented, but he is not the first president to seek dominance. Franklin D. Roosevelt issued over 3,700 executive orders and attempted to pack the Supreme Court to push through the New Deal. Over the past three decades, power has steadily shifted from Congress to the White House. There is also a long Republican tradition advocating for the reduction of bureaucratic influence, and America has always been skeptical of entanglement in UN-style institutions.

Moreover, Trump is within his rights to set new goals for the federal bureaucracy and demand efficiency. Bill Clinton’s government streamlining efforts eliminated more than 420,000 federal jobs. As argued last week, many agencies—especially the Pentagon, which struggles to prepare for 21st-century warfare—require reform. Likewise, Trump has a legitimate interest in seeking peace in Europe and the Middle East to redirect focus to America’s strategic rivalry with China.

The Perils of Trump’s Methods

However, governing is about both means and ends, and here Trump’s critics have reason for concern. His brand of bureaucratic shock therapy is likely to cause significant damage before yielding any benefits. Imposing loyalty tests on civil servants politicizes essential government functions. Subordinating justice to presidential whims erodes the rule of law. His proposed peace plan for Gaza, which would force Palestinians into permanent exile, tramples on fundamental human rights. Time and again, Trump has shown a willingness to wield cruelty as a tool of power, using humiliation to reinforce the principle that might makes right.

Yet it is this very belief that may lead to his undoing.

The Legal and Economic Reality

For now, Trump is largely getting his way. But in a federal system where states retain significant power and where investors and citizens still trust in the rule of law, the judiciary remains a formidable force—even if it moves slowly. The Supreme Court may grant Trump some victories, but not all. Characteristically, he has pledged to abide by legal rulings while quoting Napoleon: “He who saves his country does not violate any law.”

Defying the Supreme Court would spark a constitutional crisis, igniting resistance from officials, voters, and financial markets. Early signs of this are already visible in New York, where federal prosecutors and state officials are resigning in protest over the Adams deal.

Even without a constitutional standoff, reality will soon intrude. No matter what Trump claims, tariffs and budget deficits do, in fact, fuel inflation. Markets recognize this, just as they understand the dangers of a justice system hijacked for cronyism and retribution. A broken federal bureaucracy will deprive citizens of essential services. Americans may dislike foreign aid, but how will they react when images of suffering children emerge, their plight a direct consequence of Trump’s policies?

Perhaps the voters currently cheering Trump’s return will remain unfazed. But history suggests otherwise.

The Limits of Power

In foreign policy, Trump has wide latitude to reshape the world, and America may suffer a catastrophic decline in global influence before any significant checks are imposed. Domestically, however, resistance is mounting. Trump, true to form, will consider extreme measures. But Republicans should heed the value of restraint—not only for the sake of democracy but out of self-preservation. The powers Trump accumulates today could just as easily be wielded against them by a future Democratic president.

In the end, America’s struggle is not just over one man’s ambitions. It is a test of whether the republic’s institutions, designed to constrain power, can still endure.