Dictator On Day…Whatever

During his 2024 campaign for president, Donald Trump famously noted that of COURSE he wouldn’t act as a dictator in his second term – “except on Day One.”  Judging from some of his recent proclamations and executive orders, he seems to be extending that deadline.

In 1655, King Louis XIV of France was reported to have declared, “L'État, c'est moi” (“I am the state”). During his 1977 interview with David Frost, Richard Nixon stated, “When the president does it, it’s not illegal.” Trump recently posted a quote from Napoleon: “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.”

You remember Napoleon: the little dude with the giant ego who made himself Emperor?

It may have been spoken in different accents, but the message remains the same: “I’m above the law.”

More alarmingly, Trump just released an Executive Order claiming that only the President and the Attorney General have the authority to “interpret the law.” At this writing, it’s uncertain if the Supreme Court will agree or not with this utterly despotic move.

At this writing, Trump has been in office a little over a month. In that time, he and co-president, Elon Musk, have been working like famished carpenter ants to hollow out our government. Trump is wielding Executive Orders like Leatherface did with a power tool in “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”
He wants to fire any Justice Department officials who were appointed by Biden, ostensibly to be replaced with his own team of lackeys who will give him cover for any and all lawlessness.

This simply cannot stand. Recently, groups protesting Trump and Musk’s risky, unjust, and short-sighted actions have been popping up all over the country. They don’t get much attention from corporate media, but these events are happening everywhere.

Citizens have also been flooding their representatives with calls and emails. You may not think it will do anything but think again: some of those working within various government departments report that this outside activism has been inspiring those on the inside to do the right thing, especially in the atmosphere of fear and intimidation created by the Trump administration. At the very least, we’re their cheering section.

Dictators, whether actual or aspirational, have been a fact throughout history. But from Caesar to Napoleon, Hitler to Hussein, it never ends well for them. Never. At some point, the people become fed up and take action. That pushback may come in the form of a guillotine, a toppled statue, or exile to a lonely island, but it inevitably comes.

Here’s how to contact the Justice Department. Here’s how to contact your government officials. 5Calls is another great resource to make a difference in just minutes. The pressure is working, so keep it up folks.

Cindy Grogan is a writer, lover of history and "Star Trek" (TOS), and hardcore politics junkie. There was that one time she campaigned for Gerald Ford (yikes), but ever since, she's been devoted to Democratic and progressive policies.