Now, President Donald Trump has jumped directly into the deep end by assuming control of the Kennedy Center. This action has heightened national apprehension over intimidation in the arts and fanned flames of dissent across the country. In an unprecedented series of moves Trump was responsible for firing three of the board’s members. He recently forced out the Kennedy Center’s president and appointed himself to replace her as chairman. These actions have sent shockwaves throughout the arts community, fearing that any form of artistic expression could be stifled under his administration.
The shake-up at the Kennedy Center isn’t an isolated action taken by Trump, but part of a larger trend. He goes after organizations and people he perceives as opposition. Trump’s focus has extended to law firms such as Perkins Coie, known for its opposition research against him during the 2016 elections. Then came Trump—he banned all Perkins Coie lawyers from federal buildings. He stopped all federal contracts with the company, thus delivering the loudest message possible to his detractors.
Additionally, Trump’s administration has been quick to make use of search warrants to invade dormitories in pursuit of students who participated in the protests. These harsh measures created a climate of intimidation for anyone who dares to speak out against his agenda.
A second major development is the use of executive orders by Trump and his administration to go after the big law firms. Jenner & Block was singled out, with Trump accusing the firm of “participating in the weaponization of the legal system against American principles and values.” plea deal in early 2020 Trump explicitly named Andrew Weissmann, now a partner at Jenner & Block. This action only magnifies his bizarrely outsized obsession with opponents in court.
In a rare concession, Trump withdrew an executive order against Paul Weiss after the firm acknowledged wrongdoing and committed $40 million in free legal work to support his administration. This action is a display of the power Trump has, even against law firms pushing back against his authority.
His warpath against anyone who crosses him seems to know no bounds — now including lawyers at Covington & Burling whose security clearances have been revoked. These attorneys all served under our former special counsel, Jack Smith. These actions combined are having a terrifying inhibiting effect, scaring ordinary people and non-profits alike from speaking out against Trump.
Concerns about these changes are bipartisan and cross the political spectrum. An unnamed friend who is a professor at Columbia University expressed frustration with the current climate, stating:
“They! The university. The government. Gotta go!” – An unnamed friend who is a professor at Columbia University
The professor’s sentiment reflects a growing unease about the direction in which Trump’s leadership is steering democratic principles and values.