(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Trump: A Natural Authoritarian with Fatal Flaws [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-05-06
It was not always obvious during his 2015–2016 campaign or even in his first term—when he often was constrained by “the adults in the room”—but Donald Trump has proven to be, in many ways, a natural authoritarian. His psychological makeup, leadership style, and governing behavior display patterns commonly associated with authoritarian rulers. What makes this all the more dangerous is that he operates within a democratic system that was not designed to withstand this kind of personalized, anti-institutional power. Consider the following.
1 The Strongman Persona: Trump casts himself as the singular savior of the nation. His infamous claim, “I alone can fix it,” at the 2016 Republican National Convention, exemplifies the cult of the strongman. His style centralizes power in his person and not in the office of the President. With the help of loyalists, Trump has bent the entire Executive Branch to his will, neutered the Legislative Branch, and undermined the checks and balances meant to constrain presidential power. As an example, Trump has collapsed the distance between himself and the Department of Justice, turning it into his personal legal team.
2 Intolerance for Dissent: From mocking John McCain for being captured to labeling generals, scientists, judges, and even Vice President Pence as “traitors” or “losers,” Trump’s political worldview is a zero-sum game. Critics aren’t just wrong—they’re enemies that must be destroyed. In 2025, his administration has taken steps to investigate or punish academic institutions, law firms, and even government officials who expressed dissent, reinforcing a culture of fear and silence.
3. Use of Scapegoats: Trump’s rhetoric leans heavily on scapegoating. Immigrants are bringing crime and disease, diversity programs are un-American, and Democrats are destroying the country. These narratives create an us versus them dynamic essential for authoritarian mobilization, even creating an expectation by some of another Civil War. In his second term, Trump has blamed international students, Biden lawyers, and even internal government watchdogs for political setbacks, often using Executive Orders as punitive tools. His control over his base is almost total, which is why he can use it to threaten Republican lawmakers. Those who oppose him become scapegoats.
4. Disdain for Democratic Norms: Trump has consistently viewed democratic norms as impediments. His refusal to concede the 2020 election, his support for those who stormed the Capitol on January 6, and his repeated attacks on the legitimacy of courts, elections, and even the Constitution reflect a deep contempt for core democratic principles. In an interview, Kristen Welker asked, “Don’t you need to uphold the Constitution of the United States as president?” Trump responded, “I don’t know,” undermining the very oath of his office. (Source:
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-asked-uphold-constitution-says-dont-know-rcna204580)
5 Cult of Personality: Trump’s control over the GOP is not ideological—it is personal. Republican leaders are often forced to either support him or face political ruin. His endorsement can make or break careers, and loyalty is expected to him, not the Constitution, not conservative principles. The party’s platform in 2020 was literally replaced with a pledge of support for Trump. The GOP is gone, replaced by the party of Trump.
6 Punishing Disloyalty: Dissent invokes retribution. Trump fired James Comey and had him audited by the IRS. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger were purged. In 2025, Trump has used Executive Orders to target law firms that have represented his critics or adversaries. With Trump, loyalty is not optional—it is a requirement.
Trump uses charisma, fear, loyalty, and media manipulation to consolidate power and sideline dissent. Despite his authoritarian tendencies, Trump is not invincible. His second term has not been marked by strategic mastery, but by implementing Project 2025, which was developed by outside ideologues, and Elon Musk’s chainsaw. His personal flaws and leadership weaknesses continue to undermine him.
1 Impulsiveness: Trump acts emotionally and often erratically. His shoot-ready-aim approach causes policy adjustments or reversals that make him look chaotic and weak. Trump’s unpredictability keeps even allies off balance and undermines confidence in his leadership.
2 Lack of Ideological Consistency: Trump does not have a coherent ideology. His positions and actions are driven, not by principle, but by personal grievance, perceived loyalty, and the desire for personal enrichment. This is intensified by the last-in-the-room syndrome, which often shapes his actions. Trump issued an Executive Order extolling free speech, and then he punished free speech by Republican lawmakers, international students, and law firms.
3 Obsession with Optics Over Substance: From obsessively posting doctored images (like the AI-generated images of himself as King or Pope) to driving the cable news cycle, Trump often prioritizes showmanship over statecraft. This weakens his ability to build lasting policies or alliances.
4. Vendetta-Driven Leadership: Trump is driven by personal vendettas. His second-term focus on punishing enemies—including federal agencies, private institutions, and even foreign allies—has triggered legal, political, and public backlash that consumes his agenda.
5. Volatile Inner Circle: Authoritarians typically cultivate a loyal, ideologically aligned inner circle. Trump’s team, however, is plagued by infighting, betrayal, and chaos. The ongoing conflict between the Treasury Secretary and the Commerce Secretary is an example, as are the many staff firings by the DOD Secretary.
6 Inability to Build Broad Coalitions: Trump leads by subtraction and division, not by addition or multiplication. He ends up alienating moderates and independents. Rather than subtle co-optation to neutralize the opposition, Trump escalates and polarizes, which energizes the opposition. As the public has reacted to his second term, his poll numbers have continued to plummet.
7. Legal Entanglements: Trump is constantly distracted by legal battles, which constrain his maneuverability and public image. His lawlessness has generated over 200 lawsuits in 100 days, and this is just the beginning. The rulings to date have not favored his positions, actions, or legal reasoning. These lawsuits drain political capital, constrain action, and embolden the opposition.
Donald Trump may be a natural authoritarian, but he is not a flawless one. His ability to seize and wield power flows from instinct, charisma, and fear—but it is consistently undermined by recklessness, pettiness, and a self-sabotaging need for revenge. Authoritarianism demands discipline, ideological clarity, and long-term strategic thinking. Trump, by contrast, governs from the gut, often mistaking domination for leadership.
In the end, Trump’s authoritarianism is dangerous precisely because it feels improvised, like a constant state of emergency. But his unpredictability and lack of self-control could prove to be his undoing, especially in a democracy that, despite its fragility, still retains the tools of resistance and accountability.
Day 107: days left to January 20, 2029: 1,355 days
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/5/6/2320838/-Trump-A-Natural-Authoritarian-with-Fatal-Flaws?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
