Donald Trump recently stirred controversy by musing aloud that many Americans might welcome a dictator—though he quickly clarified he didn’t embrace the label himself. His provocations continued as he asserted, “I have the right to do anything I want to do. I’m the president of the United States of America,” in a defiant tone.
Rather than overanalyze his rhetoric, the real alarm lies in his actions. This week alone, Trump ousted a top federal health official and a head of a major financial agency, reinforcing the perception that he is consolidating power in ways that undermine democratic norms. The rapid succession of high-profile firings serves as a warning that his administration is reshaping traditional boundaries of presidential authority.
