Trump administration’s radical, incendiary approach to governance is reverberating across the world. In the process, the United States is careening away from its core democratic values. By disregarding unfavorable court rulings, the US government has raised alarm bells at home and abroad. We know that officials under Trump have ignored judicial rulings and said things like, “I don’t care what the judges say.” This challenge to the rule of law is a microcosm of an anti-democratic wave that’s sweeping the world and impacting democracy everywhere.
In a surprising move, President Trump fired the head of Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, the Shin Bet. This move is part of a growing global trend of leaders who subvert norms to accumulate power by attacking institutions. Trump’s go it alone, America first, style of governance implicitly encourages this kind of behavior from other countries. This sets an extremely dangerous precedent for other authoritarian power grabs.
These huge advances we see in rearmament mean the Trump administration is really doing something. This is an unmistakable turnaround from past approaches that prioritized arms control. This move is symbolic of a larger strategy. The budget deeply prioritizes military strength, but does so at the cost of democratic accountability, robust free speech, and independent journalism. Trump is looking to dismantle the US Department of Education. This should send up a red flag about the future of educational standards and access in this country.
The recent reports suggest records are lost on children who were forcibly separated from their parents at the US-Mexico border. Some evidence indicates this data may have been destroyed. These incidents are a reminder of the administration’s recently laid-off, extreme immigration policies and their effects on families and human rights.
The effects of these policies reach well beyond US borders. Just ask the French scientist, who was recently denied entry to the United States for a conference. This unfortunate incident showcases the increasing constraints on international collaboration and intellectual freedom. Even so, this incident raises troubling questions. It sends a clear message that the US is retreating from its position as a global leader in defending free speech and democratic norms.
In the UK, there is now a chance to step into the breach created by the US’s withdrawal from these principles. With the advantage of the English language, Britain could take a leading role in advocating for democratic accountability and free expression on the global stage.
The Trump administration’s machinations are having a profound impact on the nature of research and scientific inquiry. Additionally, funding cuts and closures threaten these major institutions—including the National Institutes of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency. These types of proposals threaten to put the brakes on research in important fields like AI, biomanufacturing, and quantum.
"In America and in Israel, when a strong rightwing leader wins an election, the leftist Deep State weaponizes the justice system to thwart the people’s will," remarked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He added, "They won’t win in either place! We stand strong together."
This sentiment is indicative of a troubling new norm, where leaders with compatible governance philosophies increasingly find support from one another, removing democratic checks and balances even more.
The Trump administration’s policies have created unprecedented harm to academic institutions. These schools now find themselves under enormous pressure to adhere to its anti-ideological or suffer financial consequences. This trend represents an unprecedented danger to both pertinent academic freedom and the independence of colleges and universities.
A press secretary at the Pentagon declared, "DEI is dead at the defense department," indicating shifts away from diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within government agencies.
These changes amount to a profound U turn from the bedrock ideals of our democracy and liberty. For decades, these ideas have been at the core of American governance. Yet at home, the administration has egregiously undermined these principles. Such a move would set a powerful precedent for other countries to do the same and change the global political dynamic.