As we approach the 100-day mark of one of the most controversial and authoritarian administrations in American history, the question of whether we can officially call it a dictatorship remains up for debate.
While some are ready to label it as such, others are still holding out hope that America remains a democracy, albeit one that’s being tested to its limits.
For many Republicans, the belief persists that Donald Trump is simply fulfilling the campaign promises that the majority of voters endorsed.
Meanwhile, many Democrats and independents are outraged but prefer to hold onto the notion that the foundations of democracy are still intact, even though Trump is pushing them to the edge.
The question I continuously ask politicians, political scientists, pundits, and pollsters is: What event will it take for them to admit that we are no longer living in a democracy? To reframe this question: What would you consider a clear indication that America has become a dictatorship?
I have received several responses to this, and as we move deeper into Trump’s presidency, all of them seem increasingly likely. Let’s break them down:
1. Defying the Supreme Court
One of the most significant triggers would be Trump openly defying the Supreme Court’s authority. Imagine him doing exactly what JD Vance suggested — telling the court that, while it has made a ruling, it has no power to enforce it.
This could happen if the court orders the regime to release an individual, like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly sent to a harsh prison in El Salvador, or if there’s a court ruling on birthright citizenship that Trump refuses to accept.
2. Abducting American Citizens
Another possibility is that the Trump regime might begin abducting American citizens it deems dangerous without due process.
While ICE has carried out such actions in the past, they have typically released those detained once their citizenship is confirmed.
However, we could soon reach a point where such individuals are not released at all, perhaps held for months or even years.
3. Launching Vindictive Criminal Investigations
A third scenario would involve Trump launching criminal investigations against Americans he seeks to punish — people like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former special counsel Jack Smith, President Joe Biden, or anyone else who has sought to hold him accountable.
While Trump has hinted at such investigations, they have yet to materialize, but it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that this could be used to target his political enemies.
4. Directly Penalizing Critics
We are also seeing a growing trend where the Trump regime directly penalizes individuals or organizations that criticize him, or even encourages his supporters to punish these critics.
While this has largely been indirect, with media companies and law firms facing consequences for standing up to Trump, we are getting closer to a situation where these actions are made more overt and justified by a twisted sense of righteousness.
The Likely Future:
As we look to the future, it seems increasingly likely that one or more of these events will tip the scale, tipping America into what could only be described as a Trumpian dictatorship. Some observers argue that we’re already there, while others say we’re not quite at that point yet, but that the situation is rapidly approaching.