1. Weaponizing Lawfare / Targeting Opponents:
“Lock her up” Rhetoric: Trump repeatedly encouraged chants and rhetoric around imprisoning Hillary Clinton during and after the 2016 election. While no charges were filed, it normalized the idea of prosecuting political opponents.
Using DOJ to Target Enemies: Former Attorney General William Barr faced scrutiny for appearing to act in Trump’s interests, including efforts to reduce sentences for Trump allies (like Roger Stone) and intervene in cases (like Michael Flynn’s).
Example: The House Judiciary Committee and legal scholars raised concerns that DOJ independence was being eroded.
Recent 2025 Comments: Trump has promised to appoint a special prosecutor to “go after” Joe Biden, openly suggesting retaliation through legal means — which many legal experts view as political lawfare.
2. Censorship and Press Attacks:
Labeling Media “The Enemy of the People”: Trump’s frequent use of this Stalin-era phrase to describe the press is widely regarded as an authoritarian tactic.
Result: Chilling effect on journalists, increased threats against reporters, and erosion of trust in independent media.
Revoking Press Credentials: His White House revoked access to journalists, like CNN’s Jim Acosta, after confrontational questions — an act later reversed in court as unconstitutional.
3. Undermining Judicial Independence:
Public Attacks on Judges: Trump has repeatedly attacked judges who ruled against him, calling them “Obama judges” or “so-called judges.”
Example: He criticized Judge Gonzalo Curiel’s Mexican heritage during the Trump University lawsuit, implying bias based on ethnicity.
Pressuring the Supreme Court: Trump has suggested that the Supreme Court should intervene in election matters in his favor, undermining judicial neutrality.