Scarlett Capellan
Senior Thesis | 2026
ScarlettCapellan
SeniorThesisPaper
02March2026
I. Introduction
DonaldTrumpiscurrentlyservinghissecondtermin office,havingwonthe2016U.S.presidentialelection.Inhisfirst term,TrumpnominatedthreeSupremeCourtjusticesand implementedstricterimmigrationlaws,pushingfortheexpansion andmodernizationofexistingbarriersalongtheMexicanborder.1 In2019,theHouseofRepresentativesimpeachedTrumpfor solicitingtheinterferenceofUkraineduringthe2020U.S. presidentialelectionanddefyingcertainsubpoenasissuedbythe HouseofRepresentatives.2 Twoyearslater,Trumpwasimpeached againforinitiatinganinsurrectionagainsttheUnitedStates’ government.Despitehisdisplayofabuseofpower,theU.S.Senate foundhimnotguiltyofthechargesinbothinstances.3 Inthefirst yearofhissecondterm,Trumprestoredseveralimmigrationlaws fromhisfirstpresidentialtermandimplementedtheuseof ImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement(ICE)fornationwideraids formassdeportations.4 InJuneof2025,Trumpdeployedthe NationalGuardinLosAngelesagainsttheICEprotestsdespite GovernorNewsom’sobjection.ThesamehadoccurredinIllinois, Chicago,wherepoliticalleadersspokeoutagainstthedeployment oftheNationalGuard.Inothermetropolitancities,suchas Washington,D.C.,TrumpdeployedtheNationalGuardtoassist withhomelessnessissuesandcrimerates.AlthoughTrumpclaims todeploytheNationalGuardinresponsetocurrentevents,it’s
1 NationalArchives,“PresidentDonaldJ.Trump|DonaldJ.TrumpPresidential Library,”wwwtrumplibrarygov,2025, https://www.trumplibrary.gov/trumps/president-donald-j-trump.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid.
Capellan2 evidenthehasanagendabecause,inmostinstances,theNational GuardwasdeployedagainstICEprotestsandtoaidwithhis immigrationpolicies.
DonaldTrumpisactivelyparticipatinginthedemocratic erosionoftheU.S.throughhisuseoftheNationalGuardinhis anti-immigrationagenda,whichgoesagainsttheU.S.Constitution, thefederalismlawsoftheU.S.,andseveraldemocraticnormsthat havebeeninplacefordecades.Hecandosobecausehehas cultivatedmasssupportviabiasedright-wingmedia,helpinghim indoctrinatefollowersofMAGA.
II. TheoriesofDemocraticErosion
Democraticbackslidingistheerosionofdemocratic institutionsandnormsbyelectedleaders.Inmostcases, democraticerosionisaslowprocessandoftenresultsinelectoral authoritarianism,aswe’veseenhappeninRussiaunderPutin’s authority.Thistypeofauthoritarianismmaintainstheformal institutionsofademocracy,suchaselectionsandtermlimits,but ischaracterizedbylimitedopposition,riggedelections,and restrictionsonthepress.
5 PoliticalscientistsLetvitskyandZiblatt theorizethattherearetwokeyreasonsfordemocraticerosion. Theyhypothesizethatinsociety,thereexistfigureswith authoritarianattitudes.Then,theseindividualswithextremist idealsaregivenaneasypathintothepoliticalarenabymainstream parties,whichmightgainsupportbydoingso.Leaderssuchas BenitoMussoliniinItaly,AdolfHitlerinGermany,andHugo ChávezinVenezuelaareexamplesofdictatorswhocametopower viaalliancesorelectionswithmainstreampoliticalparties.6
5 ErikPeinert,“DemocraticBackslidingintheUnitedStates”(Boston UniversityComparativePoliticsPO151lecture)
6 StevenLevitskyandDanielZiblatt, How Democracies Die (London:Penguin, 2018),16.
Ultimately,inthosethreecases,thewishfulthinkingbypopular partiesbackfiredandgavethekeysofpowertothewould-be authoritarianleaders.7 Topreventthissmoothrisebypotential authoritarianleaders,LetvitskyandZiblattnotethatpolitical partieshavearesponsibilitytoensureauthoritariansarekeptfar fromthekeysofpowerbyactingasthegatekeepersofdemocracy andfilteringextremistappealsfromthemasses.8
Authoritarianleaderscanbeidentifiedbeforetheyriseto powerthroughfourkeycharacteristics.Often,dictatorialleaders willusemilitaryviolencebeforegainingcompleteauthority: Mussolini’sBlackshirtsengagementsinparamilitaryviolence, Hitler’sfailedputsch,andCháves’failedmilitaryuprising.9 In otherscenarios,politiciansadheretothedemocraticprocessearly on,onlytoabandonitlater,thusrevealingtheirtrueauthoritarian nature.BuildingonJuanLinz’swork,LetvitskyandZiblatt developedfoursignsofanantidemocraticfigure.Thefirstsignis thattheywillrejectthedemocraticnormsofthegame.10 When TrumplosttoBideninthe2020elections,heclaimedthatitwas riggedandrefusedtoaccepthiscredibledefeat.“Trumpviolated thecardinalruleofdemocracywhenheattemptedtooverturnthe resultoftheelectionandblockapeacefultransferofpower.”11 The secondsignistheywilldenythelegitimacyoftheirpolitical opponents.12 Authoritarianswillbaselesslydescribetheir oppositionascriminals,alliedwithforeignthreats,orathreatto U.S.citizens.13 In2012,Trumptweetedthatacrediblesourcehad
7 LetvitskyandZiblatt, How Democracies Die, 11.
8 LetvitskyandZiblatt, How Democracies Die, 16.
9 LetvitskyandZiblatt, How Democracies Die, 22.
10 LetvitskyandZiblatt, How Democracies Die, 24
11 StevenLevitskyandLucanWay,“ThePathtoAmericanAuthoritarianism,” Foreign Affairs,February11,2025,3.
12 LetvitskyandZiblatt, How Democracies Die, 24.
13 ErikPeinert,“DemocraticBackslidingintheUnitedStates”(Boston UniversityComparativePoliticsPO151lecture)
Capellan4 toldhimBarackObama’sbirthcertificatewasafraud;hepublicly questionedthelegitimacyofObama’sconstitutionalrighttoserve aspresident.InhiscampaignagainstHillaryClinton,Trump continuouslyattackedhercharacter,callingher“anincompetent woman,”14 andclaimingthatsheisn’tloyaltoherhusband.15 The thirdsignistheywilltolerateorencourageviolence.16 Extremists suchasTrumpwillendorseviolencebytheirsupporters,as demonstratedintheJanuary6thattackontheU.S.Capitol.Trump pardonedseveralinsurrectionistswhodisruptedthejointsessionof Congressgatheredtocertifytheresultsofthe2020election.17 Lastly,theywillshowreadinesstocurtailcivilliberties,including thepress.18 InFebruary2025,theTrumpadministrationinformed theAssociatedPressthattheywouldbeprohibitedfromtheWhite HousepresspooliftheydidnotuseTrump’snewnameforthe GulfofMexico.19 Therestrictionswereliftedafterafederaljudge orderedthataccessberestored,citingaviolationoftheFirst Amendment.20 Currently,theAssociatedPresshasrestrictedaccess afterafederalappealscourtreinstatedtherestrictionstheTrump administrationhadplaced.
Tosummarize,LetvitskyandZiblattarguethat authoritarianfiguresexistinsociety,andaregivena straightforwardpathintopoliticsbecausemainstreamparties
14 ABCNews,Youtube.com,October2,2016, https://youtube/91l3ygs9mFs?si=cFVJnAG4tWTXab3s
15 Ibid.
16 Ibid.
17 BrianDuignan,“January6U.S.CapitolAttack,”Britannica,November22, 2024,https://www.britannica.com/event/January-6-U-S-Capitol-attack.
18 LetvitskyandZiblatt, How Democracies Die, 24.
20 Ibid. 19 LaurenEaston,“APStatementonOvalOfficeAccess|theAssociatedPress,” TheAssociatedPress,February20,2025, https://www.ap.org/the-definitive-source/announcements/ap-statement-on-oval-o ffice-access/.
Capellan5 potentiallygainfromdoingso.Thesefigureswillshowclearsigns ofanti-democratictendencies.Topreventtheriseofsuchaleader, LetvitskyandZiblattinsistthatmainstreampartiesdistance themselvesfromauthoritariansbyavoidingalliances,gatekeeping partyballotsatthetimeofelection,andforgingauniteddefenseto overpowerthedetrimentalextremists.Thisistopreventextremist leadersfromgainingsupportandpotentiallyputtingan authoritarianintooffice.It’simportanttonotethatit’snotfigures whocarryaveryleftorright-leaningperspective,it’sfigureswho holdidealsthatinfringeonConstitutionalrights,basichuman rights,andthefreedomofpeoplethatmustbepreventedfrom enteringthepoliticalclimate.
DecadesaftertheColdWar,democraticerosionhasbeen difficulttodetectbecausetheprocessesofanantidemocracyhave becomelessapparentandmoreambiguous.Insteadofaclearshow ofauthoritarianactionssuchasclassiccoupd’état,election-day votefraud,andexecutivecoups,politicalscientistNancyBermeo discusseshowthesehavebeenreplacedbypromissorycoups, executiveaggrandizement,andstrategicharassmentand manipulationofelections.Promissorycoupsarecoupswith promise;theyframetheremovalofanelectedgovernmentasa defenseofdemocracyandmakeapubliccommitmenttorestore democracythroughfairelections.21 Inregimechangeswhere post-coupelections,ratedacceptablebyWesternobservers,were held,eitherthecoup’sfavoredcandidatesortheactualcoup perpetratorshadwon.22 Theelectionsthemselvesaredemocratic, butoncetheelectedleadersdonotfulfilltheirpromisetorestore democracy,thatiswhenitbeginstoshifttoanauthoritarian regime.Bermeostressesthat“electionsarenotareliablerouteto
21 NancyBermeo,“OnDemocraticBacksliding,” Journal of Democracy 27,no. 1(January2016):5–19,https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.2016.0012.
22 Bermeo,“OnDemocraticBacksliding,”9.
Capellan6 democraticreinstatement,”23 sincetheyareagatewayintopower forelectedleadersandthere’snowaytoensurethatelectedleaders willupholddemocraticnorms.Thegoalofpromissorycoupsisfor authoritarianelectedleaderstoabandondemocracyonceelected. Contrastingwithallformsofcoupmaking,executive aggrandizementoccurswhenelectedofficialsweakenthechecks andbalancesinplace,allowingthemtomakeaseriesof institutionalchangesthatlimitthepowerofoppositionforcesto protestexecutivepreferences.24 Executiveaggrandizementoccurs ataslowerpacecomparedtootherforms,andwithoutexecutive replacement,allowingleaderssuchasTrumptoactwithoutfearof repercussions.Forexample,justbeforethe2020election,Trump releasedanexecutiveordertitledScheduleFthatwouldpermit himtofireasmanyas50,000careercivilservants.25 “If implemented,thedecreewilltransformtensofthousandsofcivil servantsinto‘atwill’employeeswhocanbeeasilyreplacedwith politicalallies.”26 Lastly,thereisstrategicelectionmanipulation thattypicallybeginslongbeforepollingdayandinfrequently involvesclearviolationsofthelaw.27 Potentialauthoritarian leaderswillacttotilttheelectoralplayingfieldintheirfavorby impedingmediaaccess,harassingpoliticalopponents,and manipulatingelectoralrules,forexample.28 Beforetheuseof mediaandambiguousmethods,tacticstoerodedemocratic policieswererelativelyeasytonoticebecausecontrolwasstolen
23 Ibid.
24 Bermeo,“OnDemocraticBacksliding,”10.
25 VanessaWilliamson,“DemocraticErosion:TheRoleofExecutive Aggrandizement,”Brookings,October30,2023, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/democratic-erosion-the-role-of-executive-ag grandizement/.
26 LetvitskyandWay,“ThePathtoAmericanAuthoritarianism,”9.
27 Bermeo,“OnDemocraticBacksliding,”13.
28 Bermeo,“OnDemocraticBacksliding,”14.
Capellan7 throughpronouncedstrategies,militarycoups,forexample.The introductionofmediaandvaguetacticsmakesauthoritarianism morechallengingtodetectandonlybecomesobviousonceit’s happening.
Toconfrontdemocraticbacksliding,Bermeocontendsthat socialscientistsmustfocusonhowdemocraticerosiontakesplace andcreateshybridregimesthatfeaturebothdemocraticand authoritarianaspects.LetvitskyandZiblattbelievethatmainstream politicalpartiesmustgatekeeppoliticsfromauthoritarianfiguresto ensuredemocracy.Similarly,Bermeoarguesthatpolitical oppositionsmustpreventincumbentsfromrootingtheirsupportin executivepositionsand[fromincumbentsattaining]massive supportfromcitizens.
29 Whilethisisthegoalofalldemocratic politicalleaderstogainimmensesupportfromcitizens,noticeable authoritarianleadersmustnotdosobecauseit’schallengingto provethataleaderisactinganti-democraticallyifthere’s tremendoussupportfromcitizens.Therearewaystosecure unwaveringsupportthroughtheuseofbiasedmedia.
III. ApplicationofTheoriestotheU.S.21stCentury
Observingthepresent,politicalscientistsLetvitskyand WaydescribetheUnitedStatesasheadingtowardscompetitive authoritarianism.Competitiveauthoritarianism,otherwiseknown asahybridregime,is“asysteminwhichpartiescompetein elections,buttheincumbent’sabuseofpowertiltstheplayingfield againsttheopposition.”
30 Similartoelectoralauthoritarianism, formalinstitutionsofdemocracy,suchasmultipartyelections, continuetoexist;however,electedleadersuseexecutivepowerto rigthesystem,leadingtounfairpoliticalcompetition.Letvitsky andWaypointoutthatthiswouldnothavebeenpossiblein
29 Ibid.
30 LetvitskyandWay,“ThePathtoAmericanAuthoritarianism,”5.
Trump’sfirstterm.In2017,Trumpdidnothavetheunwavering supportoftheRepublicanParty,andmostRepublicanleadersstill followedthedemocraticnormsinplace,constraininghisactions.31 ThatdoesnotholdnowbecauseTrumpdominatestheRepublican Party,allowinghimtoactwithoutopposingopinionsthatmight comewithfearsofrepercussion.“[...]Trumphasmadeitclearthat heintendstogovernwithloyalists.”32 LetvitskyandWayexpect theUnitedStatestocontinuemovingtowardsauthoritarianism becauseTrumphaspoliticizedandweaponizedbureaucracy.
Bureaucracyreferstogovernmentprofessionalswhodecide whichtaxesareaudited,whogetsprosecutedforcrimes,and whichcompaniesobtaincriticalcontracts,licenses,and concessions,forinstance33.Thisisasmalllistofthingsthe “arbitersofpolitical,economic,andsociallife”34 oversee.Sowhen thisisweaponizedtoweakencompetitorsandrewardallies,it decreasescriticismofthegovernment.Trumphasabused bureaucracyinmanyways,notablyusingtargetedprosecutionto inflictfearonrivals.Authoritarianswillprosecutecriticsfor mundanecrimes,suchasdefamationandtaxevasion.35 As observed,whenTrumporderedtheremovalofFederalReserve GovernorLisaCook“forcause”,allegingmortgagefraudasthe basisforherremoval.36 Trumphasmadeitknownthathis opponentswillbeprosecutedandhasappointedofficialsinthe
31 LetvitskyandWay,“ThePathtoAmericanAuthoritarianism,”14
32 Ibid.
33 Ibid.
34 LetvitskyandWay,“ThePathtoAmericanAuthoritarianism,”6.
35 LetvitskyandWay,“ThePathtoAmericanAuthoritarianism,”10.
36AndrewPincusetal.,“SupremeCourtOrdersOralArgumentonPresident’s DecisiontoRemoveFederalReserveGovernorLisaCook,”Mayerbrowncom, October3,2025, https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/insights/publications/2025/10/supreme-court-o rders-oral-argument-on-presidents-decision-to-remove-federal-reserve-governorlisa-cook.
Capellan9 DepartmentofJusticewhosharethesamegoal.37 Whiletargetsof Trump’sselectiveprosecutiondon’ttypicallyendupimprisoned duetoTrump’slackofpowerinthecourts,thetime,resources, money,andsacrificemadetofightthechargesoftendoenough damage.Inaddition,byweaponizingtheDepartmentofEducation, Trumphasfrozentheresearchfundingofseveraleliteuniversities, targetingthe“centersofoppositionactivism.”38 Universitiessuch asHarvardhavefoughtagainstTrumpbysuing,whileothers,such asColumbia,havereachedsettlementstorestorefunding.
Asidefrompunishingopponents,weaponizingbureaucracy canbeatooltogainallies.Thegovernmentissuespermitsand licenses,awardsgovernmentcontractsandconcessions,waives regulationsandtariffs,andmore.39 Sowhenorganizationssuchas universitiesandmajorbusinessesfeelthatthesedecisionsare beingmadeonapoliticalbias,there’sastrongincentivetoalign themselveswithincumbents.40 ThisoccurredwithAmazon, Google,andMeta,butalsowithmajornewsoutletssuchasNBC, CNN,andCBS.LevitskyandWaywrite:“[Trump]canpressure mediaoutletsbypressuringtheircorporateowners. The Washington Post,forinstance,iscontrolledbyJeffBezos,whose largestcompany,Amazon,competesformajorfederalcontracts. Likewise,theownerof The Los Angeles Times,Patrick Soon-Shiong,sellsmedicalproductssubjecttoreviewbytheFood andDrugAdministration.Aheadofthe2024presidentialelection, bothmenoverruledtheirpapers’plannedendorsementsofKamala Harris.”41 Companyleadersarepressuredtoleanwithelected leaderssothattheycontinuetoreapthebenefits.
37 LetvitskyandWay,“ThePathtoAmericanAuthoritarianism,”10
38 LetvitskyandWay,“ThePathtoAmericanAuthoritarianism,”12.
39 LetvitskyandWay,“ThePathtoAmericanAuthoritarianism,”14.
40 Ibid.
41 Ibid.
Ultimately,theUnitedStatesexhibitscompetitive authoritarianismbecauseTrumpwaselecteddemocratically,but nowcontinuestoabuseandweaponizebureaucracytolimit opposition,criticism,andchecksandbalances,empoweringhimto actwithoutfearofrepercussions.
DespitetheU.S.shifttowardsauthoritarianism,Letvitsky andWayofferinsightintoseveralprotectionsofdemocracyin placethatwillpreventacompleteshift.Unlikeothercompetitive authoritarianregimessuchasTurkeyandHungary,theU.S.has federalism,bicameralism,anindependentjudiciary,andmidterm elections.42 Withthesestronginstitutionsinplace,Trump’s authoritariantendenciesarelimited.Inaddition,Trumpisnot well-respectedinternationally;broadpublicsupportplaysa significantroleinsecuringlandslideplebiscitevictoriesor legislativesupermajorities,whicharenecessarywhenimposing reformsthatestablishautocraticcontrol.43 Lesspopularleaderslike Trumpprovokeresistancefromcourts,thelegislature,sometimes allies,andcivilsociety.Inaddition,civilsocietyandoppositionin theU.S.arewell-financed,well-organized,andelectorallyviable, whichmakesthemdifficulttorepress,co-opt,anddefeat;they cannotbeeasilysidelined.44 Ultimately,it’sinthehandsofthe oppositiontofightagainstTrump’sauthoritarianruleandremainin thegameofdemocracy.45 TheUnitedStatesConstitutionisn’t enoughtopreventthecompletelossofdemocracy.Tofightagainst fear,exhaustion,andthetemptationtoresignmeanscommittingto democracy.46
42 LetvitskyandWay,“ThePathtoAmericanAuthoritarianism,”19.
43 Ibid.
44 LetvitskyandWay,“ThePathtoAmericanAuthoritarianism,”20.
45 LetvitskyandWay,“ThePathtoAmericanAuthoritarianism,”23.
46 Ibid.
IV. UseoftheNationalGuardandImmigrationand CustomsEnforcement(ICE)
Civiliancontrolofthemilitaryandlocalcontrolofthe policearestrongdemocraticnormsthathaveexistedintheUnited Statesforcenturies.Trumpisactivelyunderminingdemocracyby deployingtheNationalGuardinmetropolitancitiestocombatICE protests,crime,andhomelessness.TheNationalGuard’s involvementincivilianissuesisaviolationoflong-standing civil-militarynormsandfederalismestablishedintheU.S. Constitution,indicatinganabuseofpower.ArticleOne,Section EightoftheU.S.Constitutionestablishesfederallegislative authorityoverthemilitary.Congresshasthepowertodeclarewar, raiseandsupportarmies,provideandmaintainaNavy,establish rulesforgovernmentandregulationofthelandandnavalforces, andprovidefororganizing,arming,anddiscipliningtheMilitia.47 Inaddition,Congressholdsthepower“toprovideforcallingforth theMilitiatoexecutetheLawsoftheUnion,supressInsurrections andrepelInvasions;[...]”48 ArticleTwo,SectionTwoestablishes thatthepresidentisthe“CommanderinChiefoftheArmyand NavyoftheUnitedStates,andoftheMilitiaoftheseveralStates, whencalledintotheactualServiceoftheUnitedStates.”49 To preventthepresidentfromabusingmilitaryauthority,thePosse ComitatusActof1878andtheInsurrectionActof1807outline specificguidelinesformilitaryuse.ThePosseComitatusAct prohibitstheuseofthemilitaryincivilianaffairs,withthe exceptionsofinsurrections,preventingthemilitaryfrombeing usedasdomesticlawenforcement.TheInsurrectionActgrantsthe
47“TheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates:ATranscription,”NationalArchives, November4,2015, https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript#1-8.
48 Ibid.
49 Ibid.
Capellan12 presidentauthoritytodeploymilitaryforcestosuppress insurrections,domesticviolence,orconspiraciesthatobstruct federallawortheconstitutionalrightsofcitizens.50 TheFirst Amendmentreads:“Congressshallmakenolawrespectingan establishmentofreligion,orprohibitingthefreeexercisethereof; orabridgingthefreedomofspeech,orofthepress;ortherightof thepeoplepeaceablytoassemble,andtopetitiontheGovernment foraredressofgrievances.”51 Arguably,Trump’sdeploymentof theNationalGuardagainsttheICEprotestisaviolationofthe righttopeacefulassembly.
InJune2025,TrumpdeployedtheNationalGuardinLos AngelestocombattheICEprotest.Inhismemorandumforthe SecretaryofDefense,TrumpcallstheFederalservicemembers andunitsoftheNationalGuard,statingreasonsfortheprotection ofICE,U.S.Governmentpersonnel,andFederalproperty.Trump describestheprotestas“crediblethreatsofcontinuedviolence.”52 WithoutGovernorNewsomofCalifornia'sconsenttofederalize theNationalGuard,Trumpcontinuedwiththedeployment.“On June12th,followingTrump’smilitarizationagainstprotests, GovernorNewsomandAttorneyGeneralBontasucceededina courtorderblockingTrump’sillegaltakeoveroftheNational Guard[...]”53 GovernorNewsomsaid:“Oursuccesstodayincourt isawinforallAmericans.ThePresident’sactiontoturnthe militaryagainstitsowncitizensthreatenedourdemocracyand
50 Ibid
51 Ibid.
52“DepartmentofDefenseSecurityfortheProtectionofDepartmentof HomelandSecurityFunctions,”TheWhiteHouse,June8,2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/department-of-defens e-security-for-the-protection-of-department-of-homeland-security-functions/
53“GovernorNewsomPrevailsinBlockingTrump’sMilitarizationofLos Angeles|GovernorofCalifornia,”GovernorofCalifornia,June13,2025, https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/06/12/governor-newsom-prevails-in-blocking-tru mps-militarization-of-los-angeles/.
Capellan13 movedusdangerouslyclosetoauthoritarianism.Wewillcontinue tostandupforourdemocracyandtherightsofallAmericans.The countryiswatching.”54 Trump'sdeploymentinLosAngeleswasa completedisregardofthefederalismlawthatplacestheGovernor asCommanderinChiefofthestate’smilitiawhennotinfederal service.Addingon,Trumpexaggeratesinhisdescriptionofthe harmdonebytheICEprotesttojustifyhisdeployment.Trump holdsastanceonimmigration,makingthedeploymentpolitical.In thepast,militaryhasremainedapoliticalandnon-partisanto preventtheuseofthemilitaryincivildiscourse.Nowitappears thatthemilitarycanbeusedagainstcivildisputesthatoppose Trump’simmigrationstance.
Inasimilarsetting,Trumpattemptedtodeploythe NationalGuardinChicago,statingreasons:tofightagainstcrimes andanti-ICEprotests.Theseattemptsweremetwithresistanceby Illinoisofficials,suchasCongressmanJonathanJacksonwhosaid: “Letmebeclear:thisactionisnotaboutpublicsafety;itisan unlawful,dangerous,andprovocativeinvasionofourstate sovereignty.Thisisnotgovernance,itisauthoritariantheater.,” citingthe10thAmendmentandthePosseComitatusActfor reasoning.
55 GovernorJ.B.Pritzker,AttorneyGeneralKwame Raoul,andMayorBrandonJohnsonofChicagowereinvolvedin preventingthedeployment.Ultimately,theU.S.SupremeCourt rejectedtheTrumpadministration’sbidtodeployNationalGuard troopsintheChicagoarea.56 Andafterhisdeclinedrequestto
54 Ibid.
55“CongressmanJacksonDenouncesTrump’sIllegalDeploymentofTexas NationalGuardTroopstoChicago:‘ThisIsNotGovernance,ItIsAuthoritarian Theater,’”CongressmanJonathanJackson,October9,2025, https://jonathanjacksonhousegov/media/press-releases/congressman-jackson-de nounces-trumps-illegal-deployment-texas-national-guardon.
56AnaFaguy,“SupremeCourtRejectsTrump’sBidtoDeployNationalGuardto Chicago,”December23,2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4xzn04x03o.
overturnthisruling,Trumpannouncedhisremovalofthefederal troopsfromnumerouscities.57
InPortland,Oregon,again,Trumpattemptstodeploythe NationalGuardagainstICEprotests.GovernorTinaKotek, SenatorsRonWydenandJeffMerkley,andmanyotherlocal leadershavedenouncedthefederaldeployment.TheNational GuardwasneveractuallylawfullydeployedbecauseonNovember 7th,2025,“U.S.DistrictJudgeKarinJ.Immergutissuedafinal orderbarringtheTrumpadministrationfromdeployingNational GuardtroopstoPortland,afterhearingargumentsandevidencein athree-daytrial.”58
Differentfromtheothercasesmentioned,thereis Washington,D.C.,whereheusedviolentcrimeratesand homelessnessasjustificationfortheNationalGuarddeployment. Crimeandhomelessnessareissuesthatshouldbehandledbylocal lawenforcement,andcallingintheNationalGuardforthismakes themappeartobedomesticofficers,whichisaviolationofthe PosseComitatusAct.Justrecently,Trumphasextendedthe NationalGuarddeployment.Interestingly,theNationalGuard wasn’tusedtofightagainstprotests,butrathertosurveilthecity, carryingfirearmsattimes.
TherecentactionsofICEagentsinMinneapolis, MinnesotamakesTrump’sthreatstodeploytheNationalGuard political.OnJanuary7th,ICEshotandkilledReneeGoodasshe wasdrivingoffinhercar.Trumpthreatenedtoinvokethe InsurrectionActagainstprotestorsoutragedoverherdeath.59 Two
57“PortlandandFederalTroops,”Portland.gov,October8,2025, https://www.portland.gov/federal/federal-troops.
58 Ibid
59AnnaBetts,“TrumpThreatenstoUseInsurrectionActinMinnesotain ResponsetoICEProtests,”theGuardian(TheGuardian,January15,2026), https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/15/trump-insurrection-act-minn esota-ice-protests.
Capellan15 weekslater,ICEshotandkilledanotherU.S.citizen,AlexPritti. ThesearenotthefirstinstancesofmurdersbyICEagents.On NewYear'sEve,KeithPorterJr.wasshotandkilledbyanoff-duty ICEagent.60 Thesearen’tthefirstmurdersofU.S.citizensbyICE agents.Inaddition,peopledieinICEfacilitiesduetotheinhuman conditions:SilverioVillegasGonzález,MaksymChernyak,Serawit GezahegnDejene,andthelistisgrowingeveryday.Inmetropolitan cities,TrumphadapatternofthreateninganddeployingtheNational GuardagainstICEprotestors.Trumpholdsanextremiststanceon immigrationandsupportstheuseofviolenceagainstimmigrants.So whentheNationalGuardisdeployedagainstthosewhoopposehis immigrationviewsandICE,theNationalGuardservesasapolitical forceratherthanaprotectorforcitizens.Themilitaryshouldalways actapoliticallyandnon-partisantopreventthepresidentfromusing themforapersonalagenda.
Asdiscussed,governors,senators,andotherleadersfought againstTrump’sunlawfuldeploymentorattempteddeploymentof theNationalGuard.Theirresistanceandknowledgeoffederalism andcivil-militaryrelationseventuallyforcedtheNationalGuard outinsomecities.AsLetvitsky,Ziblatt,andWaynoted,political oppositionplaysacrucialroleinpreventingauthoritarianization. OppositiontoTrumpismaintainingwhatisleftofdemocracyby counteringTrump’sattemptstousetheNationalGuardforhis politicalagenda. Whilethoseopposedareresistingthecomplete militarizationofthestates,thiscallsintoquestionhowTrumpcan violateseveraldemocraticnormswithoutfearofpunishment.The personaTrumphascraftedthroughMAGAandhisadministration oflike-mindedindividualsallowshimtobelievehecanactasan
60 SamLevin,“FamilyofManKilledbyOff-DutyICEAgentinLADemands Charges:‘theAcheWillNeverGoAway,’”theGuardian(TheGuardian, January16,2026), https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/16/keith-porter-jr-ice-killing.
Capellan16 authoritarianandviolatetheConstitution,theFirstAmendment, andtherightsofU.S.citizens.
V. CapitalizingonPolarizationandtheMediatoErode DemocraticNorms
TrumpcapitalizedonthepolarizationofAmericanpolitics toerodedemocraticprocesses.Sincethelastcentury,theUnited Stateshasbecomeamulticulturalnation,supportingimmigration, equalrightsforpeopleofcolorandwomen,andaddressingwealth inequality.Withtheseimprovements,therearegroupsopposedto equalitybecausetheyfeelthattherightsofothersinfringeontheir freedomandopportunities,suchasjob.Trumphasfoundawayto exploitthishatredandhasgivenrisetohisfame.Thepolarization ofculture-wartopicsmakesiteasierforTrumptomaintainhis popularitywithintheRepublicanPartybecausethey’vecompletely alignedthemselveswithhisextremistideology.61 Thedistinction betweenMAGAandtheRepublicanPartyhasbeenhardtospot becauseoftheirrecentalignment.InTrump’sfirstterm,hetookan extremiststanceonimmigration,gainingthesupportoffar-right Republicanswhofeltthat“illegal”immigrantsweretaintingthe U.S.Inaspeech,Trumpsaid:“They’repoisoningthebloodofour country.[...]Theyjustcomein.Thecrimeisgoingtobe tremendous.Theterrorismisgoingtobe,terrorismisgoingto be.”62 InacampaigntributefortheJanuary6thinsurrectionists, Trumpsaid:“IfIdon’tgetelected,it’sgoingtobeabloodbathfor
61 AmandaTaub,“TheGameTheoryofDemocracy,” The New York Times, October29,2024, https://wwwnytimescom/2024/10/29/magazine/democracy-elections-gamehtml .
62“TrumpSaysImmigrantsAre‘PoisoningtheBloodofOurCountry,’” www.youtube.com,accessedJanuary19,2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKPFjAhd3KQ.
Capellan17 thecountry.”63 Trumphassaidthathedislikesthosewhooppose him,peopleofcolor,women,andhascalledDemocrats“Radical leftscum.”64 Whatmakesthesituationworse,asAmandaTaub pointsout,isthatTrump’sfollowersonlyconsumefar-right-wing media,wheretheywon’thearcriticismofhisextremistbeliefsor moderatepolicies.65 Right-wingmediahasevolvedtobeso partisanthatitsimpactonconsumerscanbecomparedtothatof government-controlledmediaincountrieswithoutpressfreedom.66 Essentially,Trumphasindoctrinatedhisfollowers.Whilethere’s anargumenttobemadethatDemocrats,too,onlyconsume left-wingmediathatcouldpotentiallypromoteharmfulthinking, theydon’tseemtobedebatingtherightsofAmericancitizens. Ultimately,theconsumptionofone-sidedmediaistherootof successforauthoritarianssuchasTrump.
Inadditiontothemedia,Trumphastakenadvantageofthe effectivepolarizationofU.S.politics.Buildingonideological polarizationthatcapitalizesonextremistprinciples,affective polarizationcapitalizesonpartisans’distrust,dislike,and animosityoftheopposinggroup.IntheU.S.,politicalpartiesare theformaloccasionforexpressingpartisanidentity.67 Often,this identityisacquiredduringchildhoodandinfrequentlychanges overthelifecycleduetoparentalinfluenceandsocializationbuilt
63 PBSNewsHour,“TrumpunderFireAgainforViolentLanguageand DehumanizingAnti-ImmigrantRhetoric,”YouTube,March18,2024, https://wwwyoutubecom/watch?v=fUkLw63nxeQ
64 Twitter
65AmandaTaub,“TheGameTheoryofDemocracy,” The New York Times, October29,2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/29/magazine/democracy-elections-game.html
66 Ibid.
67 ShantoIyengaretal.,“TheOriginsandConsequencesofAffective PolarizationintheUnitedStates,” Annual Review of Political Science 22,no.1 (May2019):129–46,https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-051117-073034.
Capellan18 onsaidpoliticalidentity.68 Ideologicalidentitiesandsalientsocial identities,suchasraceandreligion,havebecomesomewhat aligned.69 Forexample,peopleassociateDemocratswithAfrican AmericansandRepublicanswithwhiteevangelicals.70 When politicalpartiesbegintobeassociatedwithsalientidentitiesand generalizations,hatebecomeseasiertocapitalizeon,leadingto increasedpolarization.Trumpoftenappealstotheexistingracist ideologyofwhitepeopletogainsupport.Inaspeechreferringto immigrants,hesaid,“Ifyoucallthempeople.Idon’tknowifyou callthempeople,butinsomecases,they’renotpeople,inmy opinion.”71 Trumpplaysintotheideaofimmigrantsasaliens, non-humans.Hereinforcesthisharmfulideologytodesensitizehis followerstotheICEraids,theinhumandeportation,andthe murderscommittedbyICEagents.
Theconsumptionofbiasedright-wingcontentbyTrump supportersgaveTrumptheplatformnecessarytoviolate democraticnormswithoutfearofrepercussion.Thelackof criticismthatTrumpreceivesgiveshimfreereintoerode democraticpoliciesbecausehehassupporterswhodon’t understandtheseverityofhisactions.
68 Ibid.
69 Ibid.
70 Ibid.
71 Ibid.
VI. Conclusion
Inclosing,democraciesevolvetobeauthoritarianbecause thereareindividualsinsocietywhocarryauthoritarianmindsets andarethenallowedintogovernmentasanincentivefor mainstreampartiestogainvotes.Popularpartiesmustcommitto thepreservationofdemocraticvaluestoensureanti-democratic individualsdon’trisetopower.Unfortunately,Trumphasentered thepoliticalatmosphereandhascreatedacultofpersonalitythat removesanysortofdemocraticstandardhemustuphold.TheU.S. isnowenteringcompetitiveauthoritarianism,whereTrumpis weaponizingbureaucracytoerodethechecksandbalancesinplace thatwouldpreventacompleteshifttoauthoritarianism. Fortunately,Trump’soppositionrejectshisextremistideologyand actions,holdinghimtothestandardofademocraticpresident.
Trump’smostprominentdisplayofauthoritarianismisthe deploymentoftheNationalGuardinLosAngeles,Chicago,and Washington,D.C.Inmostcities,TrumpdeployedtheNational GuardagainstICEprotestors,whichmadethemilitarypolitical andpartisaninthatcase,consideringhisviewpointson immigration.Trump’sdeploymentwasmetwithresistanceby governorsandotherleaders.Trumpwasabletooperateagainstthe democraticandfederalistnormsbecausehecapitalizedonthe polarizationofU.S.politics.DespitetheUnitedStatesbeing describedasameltingpot,anationoffreedom,andaplacewhere allmenarecreatedequalintheDeclarationofIndependence,a largerpopulationcarriesaprejudicedviewpointontheworld, whichTrumphascapitalizedon.Hisexploitationofhatehasledto hiscultwithmanyfollowers, MAGA“MakeAmericaGreat Again”,andacompletetransformationoftheRepublicanParty. Unfortunately,theuseofbiasedandwidespreadmediahasmade hisanti-democraticnotionspermeatetheRepublicanParty.
Althoughthereappearstobenohope,theU.S.willreturn toademocracy.Unlikeothercountriesthathavefallento authoritarianleaders,thedemocraticinstitutionsoftheU.S.are strong.EventhoughtheConstitutionhasitsloopholesand ambiguities,it’spowerful.Therearegovernmentofficials,local leaders,andeverydaycitizenscontinuouslyfightingfordemocracy andagainstTrump’sauthoritarianrule.Citizensareprotestingfor theidealsonwhichtheU.S.wasfounded.Theseareindications thatpeopleareawareofwhat’shappeningandwon’tstandforit. TheDemocraticPartyisholdingitsownagainstTrump’sthreats. AsLetvitskyandWaynote,evenwhenpoliticaloppositionwants tohideawayduetofear,it’stheirjobnottoletfeargetintheway ofdemocracy.WhiletheU.S.isheadingtowardsan anti-democraticregime,thefightersfordemocracygivehopethat wecanalwayscomebacktodemocracy,despitetheTrump administration’serosionofdemocraticprocesses.
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