Trump's Power Grab: The GOP's Passive Approach to Presidential Authority
Donald Trump recently announced the deployment of National Guard troops to D.C. streets and the federal control of local police officers, with the condition that it must be temporary. If the White House wants to extend this takeover beyond 30 days, congressional approval is required. Trump hinted at seeking an extension and asserted his ability to act without Congress in a national emergency, though he prefers not to declare one. The president's tendency to bypass Congress and consolidate power has been met with little resistance from Republican lawmakers, who have allowed him to claim their traditional powers for himself. This acquiescence to Trump's power grabs has been criticized in various media outlets, highlighting the GOP's passive approach to their responsibilities. The erosion of political norms and institutions within modern democracies, as outlined in the book "How Democracies Die," is exemplified by the Republican Party's deference to Trump's authoritarian tendencies.