Trump’s Battle Isn't Against Democracy—It’s Against the Power Brokers Who Claimed It

[Social Media]

 

Trump’s Battle Isn't Against Democracy—It’s Against the Power Brokers Who Claimed It

 

Donald Trump’s aggressive pushback against the Washington establishment is being framed by critics as an attack on democracy itself, but a closer look reveals a very different picture. What’s happening isn’t the destruction of democratic institutions—it’s the dismantling of a decades-old oligarchy that seized control of them. The backlash from the Beltway’s entrenched class shows just how threatened they feel. These so-called defenders of democracy are suffering what can only be described as political shell shock.

 

In the modern era, no incoming administration has taken such a decisive and relentless stand against the political uniparty—those elites who have entrenched themselves in the machinery of American governance. For years, their authority went unchallenged. Now, Trump’s refusal to play by their rules has prompted a furious reaction. Rather than face the real issue—the exposure of their own overreach—they accuse him of authoritarianism and claim he poses a threat to democratic norms. The irony, as many have noted, is almost too much to bear.

 

CNN recently published a lengthy and ominously titled article, “Trump is using the power of government to punish opponents.” The report suggests Trump is stretching presidential powers in an “unprecedented” manner to target political enemies and undermine independent institutions. “His actions,” the article warns, “are paralyzing institutions that stand as pillars of America’s independent civic society.”

 

 

But let’s examine those claims. Is Trump weaponizing lawfare to jail his opponents? Is he censoring the press, curbing academic freedom, or compromising judicial independence? The answer to all of those questions is no. In reality, Trump is doing the opposite. He is taking aim at a political elite that has monopolized power within these institutions for decades. The measures he’s enacted are aimed at loosening their grip—not tightening his own.

 

Among the most cited offenses: Trump has revoked federal contracts and security clearances from law firms that engaged in politically motivated harassment suits against him. These same groups tried to block him from the ballot in the last election. They even pursued legal maneuvers aimed at incarcerating him before voters had a chance to cast their ballots. Now, those who sought to deny voters a choice are outraged that Trump is pushing back. Several firms have reached multi-million dollar settlements and offered pro-bono services to the Trump administration, hoping to avoid further scrutiny.

 

Another so-called authoritarian overreach was Trump’s pressure on Columbia University and similar institutions over their failure to address anti-Israel protests and harassment of Jewish students. Trump threatened to pull $400 million in federal funding unless universities enacted stricter rules on protests, banned masks, held student groups accountable, empowered law enforcement, and reviewed Middle East studies programs. Columbia ultimately agreed to the demands.

 

Former university president Lee Bollinger called it “the most serious intrusion into academic freedom and autonomy” he could remember. But to many Americans, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, this wasn’t an intrusion but a necessary correction. “America grants visas to foreign students to come and study and get a degree,” said Rubio, “not to become a social activist that tears up our university campuses.”

 

Trump’s reevaluation of media access is also portrayed as a danger to democratic norms. In truth, he simply shifted influence away from legacy media outlets—whose credibility has plummeted—and opened the door for alternative platforms that now command public trust. This isn't an assault on press freedom; it's a rebalancing of access and accountability.

 

Finally, Trump’s attempts to root out waste and inefficiency in the executive branch, including his campaign promise to appoint Elon Musk to lead a Department of Government Efficiency, are now being challenged in court. Bureaucrats claim this effort is an attempt to “bend U.S. institutions to his will.” But the reality is straightforward: Trump is asking government employees to follow the directives of the executive branch—the very branch they work for.

 

What we’re witnessing isn’t a breakdown of democracy. It’s the first real effort in generations to return democratic institutions to the people by stripping power from a cloistered elite. The deep state got comfortable calling the shots. Now, their hysterical resistance to change is revealing just how absurd their claims really are.

 

Based on a report by The Hill  2025-04-19

 

 

[FlorC]

Never thought I would read such a truthful article on AN 👍

These are new times.

[Bannoi]

I wonder just how much they got paid to write this propaganda 

[FlorC]

6 hours ago, Social Media said:

Based on a report by The Hill  2025-04-19

The Hill - covering Congress, Politics, Political Campaigns and Capitol Hill

Quick look at the Hill , not a real lefty or right site.

[thaipo7]

1 hour ago, Bannoi said:

I wonder just how much they got paid to write this propaganda 

What is the propaganda?  Every despot leader, every Communist leader, every Marxist leader, and the Marxist Democrat Party of the USA uses the word Democracy to hid who they are and what they stand for.  Trump is the only one that uses the word Democracy as intended.

[Tug]

2 hours ago, FlorC said:

Never thought I would read such a truthful article on AN 👍

These are new times.

Okaaa then we will just ignore all the things he’s done……got it (obvious sarcasm alert)

[Magictoad]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I take it this is satire.

 

 

 

No. Definitely not. People forget how millions of voters chose Trump.

[newbee2022]

6 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Trump’s Battle Isn't Against Democracy—It’s Against the Power Brokers Who Claimed It

 

Donald Trump’s aggressive pushback against the Washington establishment is being framed by critics as an attack on democracy itself, but a closer look reveals a very different picture. What’s happening isn’t the destruction of democratic institutions—it’s the dismantling of a decades-old oligarchy that seized control of them. The backlash from the Beltway’s entrenched class shows just how threatened they feel. These so-called defenders of democracy are suffering what can only be described as political shell shock.

 

In the modern era, no incoming administration has taken such a decisive and relentless stand against the political uniparty—those elites who have entrenched themselves in the machinery of American governance. For years, their authority went unchallenged. Now, Trump’s refusal to play by their rules has prompted a furious reaction. Rather than face the real issue—the exposure of their own overreach—they accuse him of authoritarianism and claim he poses a threat to democratic norms. The irony, as many have noted, is almost too much to bear.

 

CNN recently published a lengthy and ominously titled article, “Trump is using the power of government to punish opponents.” The report suggests Trump is stretching presidential powers in an “unprecedented” manner to target political enemies and undermine independent institutions. “His actions,” the article warns, “are paralyzing institutions that stand as pillars of America’s independent civic society.”

 

 

But let’s examine those claims. Is Trump weaponizing lawfare to jail his opponents? Is he censoring the press, curbing academic freedom, or compromising judicial independence? The answer to all of those questions is no. In reality, Trump is doing the opposite. He is taking aim at a political elite that has monopolized power within these institutions for decades. The measures he’s enacted are aimed at loosening their grip—not tightening his own.

 

Among the most cited offenses: Trump has revoked federal contracts and security clearances from law firms that engaged in politically motivated harassment suits against him. These same groups tried to block him from the ballot in the last election. They even pursued legal maneuvers aimed at incarcerating him before voters had a chance to cast their ballots. Now, those who sought to deny voters a choice are outraged that Trump is pushing back. Several firms have reached multi-million dollar settlements and offered pro-bono services to the Trump administration, hoping to avoid further scrutiny.

 

Another so-called authoritarian overreach was Trump’s pressure on Columbia University and similar institutions over their failure to address anti-Israel protests and harassment of Jewish students. Trump threatened to pull $400 million in federal funding unless universities enacted stricter rules on protests, banned masks, held student groups accountable, empowered law enforcement, and reviewed Middle East studies programs. Columbia ultimately agreed to the demands.

 

Former university president Lee Bollinger called it “the most serious intrusion into academic freedom and autonomy” he could remember. But to many Americans, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, this wasn’t an intrusion but a necessary correction. “America grants visas to foreign students to come and study and get a degree,” said Rubio, “not to become a social activist that tears up our university campuses.”

 

Trump’s reevaluation of media access is also portrayed as a danger to democratic norms. In truth, he simply shifted influence away from legacy media outlets—whose credibility has plummeted—and opened the door for alternative platforms that now command public trust. This isn't an assault on press freedom; it's a rebalancing of access and accountability.

 

Finally, Trump’s attempts to root out waste and inefficiency in the executive branch, including his campaign promise to appoint Elon Musk to lead a Department of Government Efficiency, are now being challenged in court. Bureaucrats claim this effort is an attempt to “bend U.S. institutions to his will.” But the reality is straightforward: Trump is asking government employees to follow the directives of the executive branch—the very branch they work for.

 

What we’re witnessing isn’t a breakdown of democracy. It’s the first real effort in generations to return democratic institutions to the people by stripping power from a cloistered elite. The deep state got comfortable calling the shots. Now, their hysterical resistance to change is revealing just how absurd their claims really are.

 

Based on a report by The Hill  2025-04-19

 

 

Hogwash

[kimothai]

The left will never accept the truth or POTUS Trump. The good news is Trump doesn't care what these radical lefties think, nor do I. 

[thecyclist]

Article is spot on. They should have a follow up on Trump 's predecessors :Hitler and Mussolini were the greatest humanitarians human history has ever known. They endeavoured to create paradise on earth, and were thwarted by fascists like Churchill and Roosevelt. 

[Chomper Higgot]

36 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

No. Definitely not. People forget how millions of voters chose Trump.

And millions more didn’t.

[Briggsy]

Who is the Washington establishment? Who are the elites? Who is a member of the oligarchy? Who are 'the entrenched'? Who are the 'cloistered elite'? Who are the deep state? Do they have names?

 

Who are these "alternative media platforms that command public trust"? Truth Social?? X??

 

What a crock, an absolute crock.

 

This ridiculous high school magazine article simply feeds upon the reader's suspicion of things they don't know about. It is totally childish. The only bunch they didn't mention was "The Illuminati".

[SunnyinBangrak]

1 minute ago, Briggsy said:

Who are the deep state? Do they have names?

If you are genuinely interested in knowing who is in this deep state, start by looking at the 51 lying spies that conspired to cheat in and game an election. 

[WDSmart]

No, Trump's battle is against democracy... 😞 

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, Briggsy said:

The only bunch they didn't mention was "The Illuminati".

I think it was implied. 

 

[Briggsy]

46 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

If you are genuinely interested in knowing who is in this deep state, start by looking at the 51 lying spies that conspired to cheat in and game an election. 

Are you referring to the conspiracy revealed on 4chan as "Fungus the Bogeyman steals the election"? The disappointing point of that was the author did not reveal who "Fungus" was. Rather like the story here and rather like your post.

 

I need to ask, "Are you Fungus?"

[mikebike]

Funny thing. Using the AN title, and some random quotes for the article, I cannot find the OP article anywhere on the Hill's website 🤔🤷

 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, mikebike said:

Funny thing. Using the AN title, and some random quotes for the article, I cannot find the OP article anywhere on the Hill's website 🤔🤷

 

I can’t find it on The Hill either.

 

I looked out of curiosity as to the author of this opinion piece is.

 

 

[HappyExpat57]

3 hours ago, TheAppletons said:

Man, I love The Onion.

 

Some of these satirical articles they post sound so realistic.

The Onion is damned near extinct as they can't come up with anything more atrocious than the actual news any more.

[sammieuk1]

President Trump, during your first term, you told 30,573 lies.

 

Which one is your favorite?"

 

"I don't lie."     "That's one is my favorite, too."🤔

[Bkk Brian]

12 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I can’t find it on The Hill either.

 

I looked out of curiosity as to the author of this opinion piece is.

 

 

Try a little harder............what's the matter, cant believe the Hill would publish this?

 

"Trump’s not hurting democracy. He’s blowing up their oligarchy, which is why they’re so mad"

 

[Wake Up1]

2 hours ago, kimothai said:

The left will never accept the truth or POTUS Trump. The good news is Trump doesn't care what these radical lefties think, nor do I. 

Because you don’t think. You drank the cool aid and no brain needed to be a sheep or parrot 🦜 

[SunnyinBangrak]

1 hour ago, Briggsy said:

Are you referring to the conspiracy revealed on 4chan as "Fungus the Bogeyman steals the election"? The disappointing point of that was the author did not reveal who "Fungus" was. Rather like the story here and rather like your post.

 

I need to ask, "Are you Fungus?"

Easy to spot those that swallowed the 51 spies disinfo. Fascinating to think the conspiracy was so extensive that on some political discussion forums they outright banned everyone smart enough to factually pointed out the 51 were wrong. Makes sense to deny being one of the conspiracists by trying to make light of the malevolent behavior banning fact by making mushroom jokes. 

[jingjai9]

Satire or no satire, whether or not Trump is angel or evil will be argued by the opposing sides of the divided house. However, what is most likely to happen is power will pass from oligarchs on one side of the culture wars to oligarchs on the other side of the culture wars - out with Soros and in with Musk.   So it goes.
 

[Will B Good]

 

Well, having read that I now feel I can now give my wholehearted support to everything Trump is trying to achieve......judges should be impeached, universities closed if they don't do as he says and the MSM should be closed down for all the lies they keep feeding us.

 

I'm almost tempted to go and inject myself with bleach.

[Briggsy]

20 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

Easy to spot those that swallowed the 51 spies disinfo. Fascinating to think the conspiracy was so extensive that on some political discussion forums they outright banned everyone smart enough to factually pointed out the 51 were wrong. Makes sense to deny being one of the conspiracists by trying to make light of the malevolent behavior banning fact by making mushroom jokes. 

Have you taken any narcotics? Had a drink perhaps? Some magic mushrooms (you did refer to them)?

 

I have absolutely no idea what you are on about. Are you undercover? Part of QAnon? Give me a clue.

 

You are hilarious.

[Will B Good]

10 hours ago, Social Media said:

Is Trump weaponizing lawfare to jail his opponents? Is he censoring the press, curbing academic freedom, or compromising judicial independence? The answer to all of those questions is no.

 

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.

 

[SunnyinBangrak]

19 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

Have you taken any narcotics? Had a drink perhaps? Some magic mushrooms (you did refer to them)?

 

I have absolutely no idea what you are on about. Are you undercover? Part of QAnon? Give me a clue.

 

You are hilarious.

If you don't want to know what the deep state is, don't ask. Simples.

 

And there is nothing funny about being on the factual side of issues. You might want to try it one day?

[Will B Good]

2 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

 

 

And there is nothing funny about being on the factual side of issues. You might want to try it one day?

 

Oh the irony.

[Chomper Higgot]

14 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

If you don't want to know what the deep state is, don't ask. Simples.

 

And there is nothing funny about being on the factual side of issues. You might want to try it one day?

“And there is nothing funny about being on the factual side of issues. You might want to try it one day?”

 

You should give it a try yourself.