By Colin Benjamin
Photos: YouTube Screenshots
Is Donald Trump pushing America towards military authoritarianism?
This is a question democracy loving Americans must now seriously grapple with as a new wave of protests erupt across the country to Trump’s unleashing of ICE agents, National Guard troops, and Marines into Los Angeles—amid the military parade that we witnessed on Trump’s birthday Saturday.
America is now facing a second uncivil war, in the second Trump Administration. Will the nation survive Trump?
Trump’s lawlessness is now, largely, unencumbered. His federal troop invasion of Los Angeles is an escalation of his flagrant violation for America’s supposed separation of powers. But Trump has been repeatedly ignoring judicial orders since he entered the White House last January.
The Republican Party, for decades, have pontificated to the country about the need to respect “the rule of law.” Of course, if that were true, Republicans would have impeached Trump, instead of Democrats, for inciting the Jan. 6th MAGA mob. And he would have become the first president convicted after being impeached. History will record that after Trump was impeached (the second time) for the Jan. 6th coup attempt, that Republicans protected him from being convicted.
Presently, we are again witnessing the shameful actions of Republicans in running interference for Trump. What happened to their pretentious postulation about “putting country before party?”
The recent protests, against Trump’s federal troop invasion, which started in Los Angeles, are now spreading across the country. Trump’s unilateral deployment of the California National Guard, in this instance is said to be, like many of his actions, illegal and unconstitutional. But Trump wants to be a king—so, he is ignoring norms and laws and behaving like a despot.
And the Republicans are marching in cultish lockstep with him as he attempts to plunge America into the abyss.
In an extraordinary immigration hearing (more like a clownish circus) in Congress, on Thursday, a parade of Republicans parroted lies, and half-truths, as they attacked governors from New York, Minnesota, and Chicago. These Republicans cherry-picked isolated stories, regarding crimes committed by immigrants, in an attempt to paint a distorted picture of immigrants and crime.
Republicans were there telling these Democratic governors how they should be running their states’ affairs. Aren’t Republicans the champions of “states’ rights?” Republicans have sold their soul to a devil and that is now obvious.
Recently, Trump has been defying basic Constitutional laws will frequency. But this bogus “law and order” Republicans Party either ignores his lawlessness or makes mendacious statements to defend the indefensible.
And so, as Trump’s steps closer and closer to imposing absolute authoritarianism on America these Republicans are his aider-and-abettors.
Sadly, one of the reasons the republic is in trouble, is that most Democrats fight feebly, and that was on display Thursday. Democrats keep “fighting” by rules, and by decorum, with people who are enabling someone who is busy burning the Constitution and willfully undermining American institutions. No wonder Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor David Hogg is exiting his vice-chair role in the Democratic National Committee. Apparently, Hogg is not now favored by Democratic “leadership” because he talked about unseating “asleep-at-the-wheel” Democrats.
What about the U.S. Supreme Court? Can they reign Trump in?
Unfortunately, they cannot.
In fact, much of Trump’s current lawlessness was obviously encouraged by the Supreme Court decision, from last July, that essentially gave Trump immunity for committing crimes while sitting in the White House. This is why Trump is openly defying court orders that rule against him. The current Supreme Court is a partisan Republican court run by activist right-wing judges, led by supreme hypocrite Justice John Roberts.
Because of the John Roberts Supreme Court, Trump will escalate his criminal conduct as president. Judges who rule against him are faced with a barrage of abuse and threats—including, impeachment. The judges who are now in the crosshairs of Trump’s contempt can thank Justice Roberts.
Moreover, Trump’s defiance of the courts has revealed a problematic flaw in America’s legal system that is adding to the Constitutional crisis of the moment.
The Department of Justice is a department of the federal executive government—which means it is overseen by the White House. While past presidents may have largely allowed the DOJ to operate independently, we know that isn’t the case with Trump. More importantly, when Trump defies these judges, and court orders, how are they going to enforce those orders since the law enforcement agencies, particularly the U.S. Marshals Service, are under the control of the DOJ?
And if Trump can dictate criminal control of all the law enforcement agencies, and U.S Military, the rulings of the courts—including the Supreme Court—can be made null and void.
This means that neither the courts, nor Democrats, will save America from the growing dictatorship of Donald Trump. It will be left to “We the People.”
This is why the mass mobilization and protests we are witnessing must continue. This is why the national “No Kings” marches, of this past weekend was important.
But we must face a frightening reality: political violence is in the forecast.
In fact, Saturday’s shooting of two politicians, with one being killed, maybe a harbinger of what is to come. And, as more Americans demonstrate against Trump, violence in the streets will occur.
Remember when Trump wanted Black Lives Matter protesters to be shot by law enforcement during the George Floyd protests? And let’s keep this in mind: America’s police endorsed this convict president, over a career prosecutor.
So, Trump, despite the attacks on police, during the Jan. 6 MAGA terrorist attack, will have the police on his side. And a significant section of the military will also back him. And Trump’s Second Amendment gun toting crew will be there.
While this is daunting, there is still more of us than them. But we must be clear-eyed about the dangerous violent struggle ahead.
America is facing an impending apocalypse now.
