Donald Trump is less than halfway through his second term as US president, a period described by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan as an "Imperial Presidency" that may permanently alter the role. According to Haberman, "It became clear to us within the first few months of the presidency that we were witnessing a form of regime change in our own country."

This shift is characterized by Trump's uninhibited exercise of power, supported by presidential immunity from the Supreme Court, a loyal Republican Congress, and a close-knit team aligned with his worldview. Swan noted that Trump "took America to war in the Middle East again in Iran without even talking to Congress," and authorized Delta Force to conduct a covert operation in Caracas to remove a foreign leader in Venezuela, also without congressional approval.

During his first term (2017-2021), Trump relied on traditional establishment figures like former Secretary of Defense James Mattis and former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. However, in his second term, he avoided involving individuals who "despised his worldview."

The loyalty of Trump's current inner circle was forged after his 2020 election loss and amid multiple investigations, including those led by special prosecutor Jack Smith into the January 6 riots and mishandling of classified documents.

While symbolic elements such as gilding in the Oval Office and Trump's name at the Kennedy Center may be removed after his term, Haberman and Swan emphasize that the profound changes Trump has made to the presidency's nature and its unchecked power are likely to endure.

An assassination attempt on Trump in January 2025, when he returned to swear his second oath of office, saw him respond by raising his fist defiantly, signaling the contentious atmosphere surrounding his presidency.

Sources