Freedom from Authoritarianism
How America’s founders would judge Donald Trump
America is a nation whose existence is based upon one foundational document: The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America¹, ratified on July 4, 1776. This declaration espouses only one central idea around which all other ideas in the document orbit. That idea is freedom from authoritarianism.
Within the framework of their declaration America’s founding fathers defined freedom as having the incontrovertible right to equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The founders also declared their right to establish a government ruled by the consent of the governed, as well as the right to alter or abolish any form of government destructive of these rights. When they ratified their declaration, the founders had not yet achieved freedom from the monarchical authority destructive of their rights.
Beyond the declaration of their rights, America’s founders described in detail the tyranny they were experiencing that necessitated their need for a formal declaration. Given Trump’s ongoing authoritarian rhetoric and threat to democracy, as well as the divisiveness of his Republican followers in all three branches of government, it is worthwhile and possibly imperative to consider his words and actions from the perspective of those who were willing to die to make our country happen and to judge him accordingly.
A Long Train of Abuses and Usurpations
Betrayal of the Constitution
Before Donald Trump was elected president, it is unlikely most people who consider themselves Republicans anticipated or wanted the toxic political environment he created. It is also unlikely they expected he would bend easily to the influence of dictatorial leaders. He talked like a tough guy, like nobody’s fool, so how could they have known he was so deeply flawed? How could they have known even though the evidence was copious?
The presidential oath of office is clear about what Americans expect from any person serving as this nation’s president:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. ²
Donald Trump, however, seems to have affirmed this oath in bad faith. Within the first year of his presidency, he stated the Constitution was archaic and a …bad thing for the country ³. But the Constitution is an amendable document and so sustainable over time; as such, it will not become obsolete unless it is abandoned or censured by this country’s citizens or their elected officials. In fact, this is exactly what Donald Trump has proposed, …termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution ⁴.
The question is why would Donald Trump pledge his commitment to the nation via an oath to protect a document he considers archaic and a bad thing?
The answer is simple. Donald Trump is a true Machiavellian who considers the ends justify the means. He has a proven history of making and breaking contracts in service of his interests. His promises are meaningless; he will say anything to get what he wants.
Our nation’s founders warned us about bad actors like Donald Trump who would attempt to usurp the Constitution:
But let there be no change by usurpation… it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed. — George Washington ⁵
To take a single step beyond the text would be to take possession of a boundless field of power. — Thomas Jefferson ⁵
Short of initiating military action to resolve domestic threats to our democracy, the founders advised future citizens to exercise their hard fought for liberty as the last check against governmental abuse:
There is a simple sense in which at every election the electorate hold their representatives to account, and replace those who have failed to give satisfaction. This fundamental check is, we might say, the essence of the liberty to be found in representative government. — John Adams ⁶
In other words, voting is the final (nonmilitary) check against bad actors in government and upon which our nation must rely to survive.
Unfortunately, individuals who support authoritarianism give no deference for democratic processes; as such, the right to vote only presents an obstacle to achieving and maintaining authoritarian rule. This was exemplified by Donald Trump’s Jan. 6, 2021 attempt to overthrow America’s democracy by preventing certification of the 2020 presidential election results, and which attempt came dangerously close to succeeding.
Donald Trump has proven through his beguiled followers that neither the right to vote nor the peaceful transfer of power are considered sacrosanct by many United States citizens. However, many more U.S. citizens value democracy and would find an authoritarian system intolerable. Given the vulnerability of voting rights to the forces of authoritarianism, it is useful to question what grievances induced the founders to fight against those forces and how closely they resemble authoritarianism in today's political environment.
Betrayal of the Governed
The following grievances extracted from the original twenty-seven ⁸ in the Declaration of Independence were leveled by the founding fathers against the authoritarian monarchy of British King George III. Although the actions of King George III differed somewhat from those of Donald Trump, they are similar in terms of their selfish or punitive conception, as well as their ultimate result; that is, the demise of democracy and support of authoritarianism.
Grievance 1: He has refused his Assent to Laws [meaning agreement or approval], the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. ⁸
Donald Trump refused assent to laws, rescinded established laws, or otherwise rendered them less effective in the following areas considered important and necessary by most U.S. citizens: spending cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, election reforms, gun control, equal pay, curbing violence against women, climate control, civil rights, dreamers’ protection, and minimum wage legislation.
Grievance 3: He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. ⁸
Trump withheld necessary medical supplies during the escalation of the coronavirus pandemic from predominately democratic states who had voiced disagreement with his policies and morality. Conversely, he favored states with medical supplies that relinquished representation by the democratic congress, and instead exhibited support and loyalty for his authoritarian directed rhetoric and actions.
Grievance 7: He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. ⁸
Trump and his Republican supporters backed legislation slashing legal immigration in half over a decade. He imprisoned men, women, and children trying to enter the country legally and illegally who were desperately trying to escape often deadly persecution in their countries of origin. He separated over 5,500 families, placing children in cages and at least six migrant children died in US custody.
He attempted to confiscate land on the southern border by way of eminent domain to build a wall against illegal immigrants. He even went as far as declaring the issue a national emergency; thereby, acquiring the ability to seize land and circumvent laws related to fair payment, as well as other legalities.
Although there is illegal entry into the United States along the southern border, it does not represent a national emergency. Additionally, 60% of U.S. citizens oppose border wall construction and 81% support a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants ¹⁰.
Grievance 8: He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers. ⁸
Any activity that obstructs the administration of justice, such as, depriving colonists the right to trial by jury (King George III), the incremental dismantling of judicial independence (Adolf Hitler), or refusing to comply with legal processes and orders (Donald Trump) weakens and eventually destroys established judiciary powers in a freedom-based democracy.
U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman has characterized Trump’s attitude toward America’s judicial system as follows
We are witnessing a chief executive who criticizes virtually every judicial decision that doesn’t go his way and denigrates judges who rule against him, sometimes in very personal terms. He seems to view the courts and the justice system as obstacles to be attacked and undermined, not as a coequal branch to be respected even when he disagrees with its decisions. ⁹
Furthermore, with the help of his followers in the Senate, Trump appointed federal judges who he expected to support his authoritarian ideals, such as, anti-environmental regulations, -civil rights, and -womans choice. ¹¹
Grievance 21: For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments. ⁸
Trump orchestrated economic attacks against the following charters: Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and Human Services, National Science Foundation, Department of Education, Department of Labor, Department of the Interior, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The Founders Pass Judgement on Authoritarianism
Regardless of whether the threat of authoritarianism originates from a monarchy, dictatorship, terrorist regime or a narcistic president, it always consists of someone trying to exert control over others by force. ⁷ This was true two hundred forty-eight years ago as it is today. Also true and timeless is the founders’ judgement against authoritarianism and those who practice it:
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. ¹
References
- The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America, ratified July 4, 1776, in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Oath of Office of the President of the United States, Article II, Section One, Clause 8, of the United States Constitution, ratified May 29, 1790, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Donald Trump doesn’t like the “archaic” Constitution: “It’s really a bad thing for the country” (May 1, 2017), Matthew Rozsa, published in www.Salon.com
- Trump calls for the termination of the Constitution in Truth Social post, Kristen Holmes, updated December 4, 2022, published in www.CNN.com
- The Founders on a Living Constitution, James D. Best, in Today’s Politicos vs The Words and Deeds of The Founders — What Would The Founders Think? (2010–2014)
- The Ultimate Check on the National Government, James D. Best, in Today’s Politicos vs The Words and Deeds of The Founders — What Would The Founders Think? (2010–2014)
- What Really Makes You an American? (Mar 18, 2024), Isaacs-Wade, Medium
- Grievances of the United States Declaration of Independence (2024, January 15), In Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Trump ‘violates all recognized democratic norms,’ federal judge says in biting speech on judicial independence (November 8, 2019), Katie Shepherd, published in The Washington Post
- Solid Majority Still Opposes New Construction on Border Wall (February 4, 2019), Jim Norman, in Gallup
- Why has Trump appointed so many judges — and how did he do it? (28 April 2020), Tom McCarthy, The Guardian
