Trump's Expanding Executive Power: A Year Into His Second Term

US President Donald Trump

United States:

During a recent golf cart ride with his 18-year-old granddaughter Kai, President Donald Trump revealed a personal ambition when asked about his unfulfilled dreams. "You become president -- that's the dream, right?" Trump responded in a video Kai shared with her 2.5 million Instagram followers. He then added, "Now you're president, your dream is to become a great president."

This rare glimpse into the 79-year-old President's aspirations comes one year after his remarkable political comeback secured him a second term in the White House.

For Trump, however, becoming a "great president" increasingly involves unprecedented exercises of executive authority. In recent weeks, he has intensified these power moves - exacting retribution against political opponents, deploying more troops to additional American cities, restricting media freedoms, and asserting dominance over all government mechanisms.

"Absolutely, there's an authoritarian aspect to him," observed Todd Belt, director of the political management program at George Washington University, in an interview with AFP.

While Trump had been consolidating power since returning to office in January, Belt noted that the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk in September had "augmented his approach to the us-versus-them idea."

Critics express fundamental concerns about the rule of law and executive overreach by a president who openly admires monarchs and authoritarian leaders - and who recently received a replica crown as a gift during his visit to South Korea.

Trump's pursuit of retribution has perhaps been the most overt demonstration of presidential power. Following Trump's social media directives, justice officials have recently filed charges against political adversaries including former national security advisor John Bolton and ex-FBI chief James Comey.

While promoting peace initiatives abroad, domestically Trump has explicitly targeted what he calls the "enemy within" - whether leftist groups or migrants. In a recent address to high-ranking military officers, he suggested American cities could serve as "training grounds" for troops.

The President has taken an unyielding stance during the month-long US government shutdown, refusing negotiations with Democrats while hosting an extravagant Great Gatsby-themed Halloween celebration at his Florida resort just before food assistance programs for vulnerable Americans were set to expire.

The former reality television star has increasingly moved to suppress media and academia through lawsuits and threats regarding merger applications and federal funding.

Trump has demonstrated his power within the White House itself, demolishing the East Wing to construct a massive new ballroom without public consultation or federal approval processes.

Recently, Trump has revisited the possibility of seeking an ultimate power move - a third term in 2028 - though he appeared to retreat from this idea after Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson declared it unconstitutional.

As attention shifts toward next year's midterm elections, Trump may have already reached the zenith of his power.

"Polls suggest he doesn't have as much running room as he did in the first 10 months," Brookings Institution senior fellow William Galston told AFP. "They suggest people think he's gone too far."

A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll released Sunday indicated a majority of US voters believe he has exceeded his presidential authority.

This doesn't mean Trump's influence is waning. Several crucial Supreme Court decisions expected later this year could effectively determine the extent of executive power relative to Congress and the judiciary.

While these rulings might impose certain constraints, analysts note that much depends on how far Trump is willing to disregard established presidential norms.

"If you have a president who will disregard long-established precedent, the office becomes more capacious than anyone imagined," Galston remarked.

Anything short of a significant Republican defeat in next year's midterms would likely embolden Trump further. The Ipsos poll showed Democrats have made minimal progress thus far.

"If people say it's OK, then it will continue," Galston concluded.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)