JTFMax:

Former President Trump has been preparing for a potential future election since his time in office. He has amassed significant funds and worked to support like-minded individuals in Congress and state legislatures. Furthermore, he has effectively utilized cultural grievances and nationalism to his advantage. He has threatened to retaliate against his opponents if he emerges victorious in the 2024 election.

Crushing Independent Media

A recent report published by Freedom House has identified a troubling global pattern of suppressing independent media. Russia is at the forefront of this trend, using public health laws to quell protests and branding journalists as foreign agents. This includes targeting those reporting on the conflict in Ukraine, resulting in state-controlled monopolies dominating the media landscape and leaving only a handful of independent outlets. 

Unfortunately, this issue is also part and parcel of President Trump's agenda to eliminate the so-called "deep state" by abusing executive authority and dismantling civil service protections. In a video announcing his 2024 campaign, Trump explicitly boasted about his ability to identify and eliminate "pockets of independence." This pledge is not simply the wild fantasy of a disgraced president but a calculated attempt to create a national enemy and unite both left and right around domestic grievances.

Congressman Bill Pascrell has publicly criticized the video, arguing that it promotes the destruction of the Constitution and the establishment of a dictatorship. In the meantime, others see the video as a stark reminder of the need to remain vigilant in safeguarding democracy from such dangerous threats.

Making the Oligarch Class Dependent on Him

Reports have suggested a plan to establish a regime similar to Putin's dictatorship, with the aid of Republican donors and conservative organizations that operate as a shadow White House. Sources familiar with this plan indicate that if Trump is re-elected, career civil servants may be replaced with loyalists to revamp the federal government. This plan extends beyond the traditional conservative agenda and encompasses national security, intelligence, and the State Department. Given the substantial resources of these donors, they may be able to engage in bribery and influence policies to their benefit. It is worth noting that several of these donors have business ties in Russia and are considered oligarchs. 

Suppressing Organized Political Opposition

One alarming characteristic of dictators is their tendency to eliminate government employees labeled disloyal and replace them with supportive ones. Reports from respected journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan at The New York Times suggest that Trump's advisers follow this pattern. They are compiling lists of officials they want to remove and replacing them with those supporting Trump. This approach is reminiscent of dictators and implies that Trump is willing to undermine democratic norms as soon as he takes office.

Moreover, Trump is openly discussing plans to control the media. There are indications of a new right-wing news channel being developed that would provide Trump and his favorite media personalities a platform to express their views without fear of being exposed. This is another tactic used by autocrats to exert control over the media, and it is a way for Trump to manipulate the democratic system in his favor.

The concern is that Trump's actions may have unforeseen consequences. History has shown that failed dictators are often vindictive and determined to change the system, so they are never subject to investigation or prosecution. The danger now is that Trump's behavior may be so egregious and his supporters' actions so extreme that the Republican Party will unite against him and declare "enough."

Overthrowing the National Government

There are concerns regarding the potential for an attempted government overthrow by President Trump and his associates in the event of his victory in the 2024 election. Recent reporting by The New York Times has revealed discussions among some of Trump's associates regarding a political purge to establish the president's control over the entire federal bureaucracy. This includes selecting a new employment category, "Schedule F," which would grant the president the authority to terminate any career federal employee and replace them with individuals who align with his agenda.

This approach signals a significant departure towards the unitary executive theory, a legal framework previously used to justify controversial practices such as torture and indefinite detention during the George W. Bush administration. Furthermore, reports suggest that far-right conservatives like Matt Gaetz are actively working to construct a network of task forces capable of dismantling the "rogue administrative state" in the event of Republican control of the presidency. Gaetz's group, Project 2025, has already established policies and personnel that could be recommended to any future Republican president.

Has it begun?

Former President Donald Trump has strongly backed the hard-right five in their push for GOP Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy to bring about a government shutdown. “This is a whole new concept of individuals who just want to burn the whole place down,” McCarthy said after Thursday’s vote, acknowledging his frustration. “It doesn’t work.”