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The Trump Administration and the Slippery Slope Toward Authoritarianism

While his supporters praise his unorthodox leadership and “America First” agenda, critics argue that his time in office revealed a dangerous flirtation with authoritarianism.

Libby Winkler
4 min readFeb 2, 2025
Photo by Patrick Hodskins on Unsplash

The Trump Administration and the Slippery Slope Toward Authoritarianism

In recent years, the political landscape in the United States has sparked growing concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and the rise of authoritarian tendencies. At the center of this debate is the Trump administration. While his supporters praise his unorthodox leadership and “America First” agenda, critics argue that his time in office revealed a dangerous flirtation with authoritarianism.

1. A War on the Free Press

A defining trait of authoritarian rule is the suppression of independent journalism. Throughout his presidency, Donald Trump aggressively attacked the media, branding it “the enemy of the people” — a phrase eerily reminiscent of language used by dictators to silence critics. By casting doubt on reputable news sources and amplifying conspiracy theories, Trump worked to control the narrative and delegitimize…

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Libby Winkler
Libby Winkler

Written by Libby Winkler

Freelance writer who loves exploring the messiness of humanity, while poking around in nooks of life and shining light on all the things that make us complex..

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