The Ephemeral Presidency
Washington Monthly • • world
Key Points:
- In his second term, Donald Trump rapidly reshaped the presidency by rewarding supporters, punishing opponents, dismantling federal agencies, imposing tariffs, and adopting a confrontational foreign policy, raising concerns about lasting damage to U.S. institutions and global alliances like NATO.
- Despite fears of irreparable harm, much of Trump's executive actions and policies remain reversible, especially through legislative processes and future administrations, as demonstrated by limited legislative achievements and numerous court challenges to his orders.
- Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement, public health policies, and tariff strategies have caused significant disruptions, but successors can readily reverse these by restoring prior norms, rebuilding agencies, and adjusting enforcement priorities.
- The most enduring challenge post-Trump lies in repairing the federal bureaucracy, which has been weakened
