Trump Expands Presidential Authority to Challenge Opponents
In the first 10 weeks of his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump has aggressively used executive power to target perceived adversaries in business, politics, media, and international affairs.
His administration has taken controversial actions, including pressing for the arrest and deportation of student protesters and cutting federal funding to universities. Additionally, Trump has sidelined law firms linked to political opponents, pressured journalists, and challenged judicial authorities. His efforts have also included sweeping government downsizing, removing officials viewed as obstacles to his agenda.
At the heart of this strategy is Trump’s reliance on executive orders, lawsuits, and financial penalties to compel institutions to comply with his policies.
“Trump’s goal is to dismantle any resistance to the MAGA agenda and his hold on power,” said New York University law professor Peter Shane.
While some entities have complied with his demands, others have resisted, leading to ongoing legal battles. Judges have intervened in several cases, attempting to slow down Trump’s initiatives.
His rapid and far-reaching actions have taken Democrats, public-sector unions, corporate leaders, and legal professionals by surprise.
Supporters argue that Trump is simply using the full extent of his authority to fulfill his campaign promises.
“He is delivering on everything he said he would do,” said Republican strategist Scott Jennings, a close adviser to Senator Mitch McConnell.
Reshaping Government and Society
Trump’s approach extends beyond politics—he aims to restructure American institutions under a powerful executive branch, leaving little room for opposition.
With a Republican-controlled Congress and a conservative-leaning Supreme Court, Trump operates with fewer constraints than his recent predecessors.
Using federal agencies, law enforcement, and regulatory bodies, he has exerted pressure on major institutions, securing concessions from entities like Columbia University, major law firms, and corporate giants such as Meta and Disney. Many have opted to settle rather than endure sustained government scrutiny, setting significant precedents.
Anticipating potential backlash, over 20 major U.S. corporations, including Goldman Sachs and Google, have preemptively scaled back diversity programs that had previously drawn Trump’s criticism.
Meanwhile, law firms facing pressure from his administration have either reached agreements with the government or taken legal action in response.
Trump has also used executive orders to reshape government operations, fast-track deportations, impose tariffs on trade partners, and limit media influence. He has filed lawsuits against major news corporations, taken control of the Kennedy Center, and introduced restrictions on the Smithsonian Institution’s historical narratives.
His administration has detained student protesters deemed a national security threat and pushed controversial foreign policies, including leveraging U.S. support for Ukraine to secure mineral rights, pressuring Denmark over Greenland, and suggesting territorial claims over Canada and the Panama Canal.
New Strategies and Legal Battles
Washington attorney Mark Zaid, who has represented whistleblowers against the government, described Trump’s use of executive orders as unprecedented.
“These orders were never meant to target individuals or non-government entities for retribution,” Zaid stated.
However, the White House insists that Trump’s unconventional approach is necessary.
“Traditional methods have failed to bring real change. The American people elected President Trump for his bold leadership,” said White House spokesman Harrison Fields.
Trump’s second term has seen him wield power with greater efficiency than before. Unlike his first term—where investigations, inexperienced aides, and congressional opposition limited his reach—he now faces fewer obstacles.
“He understands how to use executive authority much more effectively this time,” said Republican strategist Rina Shah.
Political science professor Claire Wofford noted that Trump’s executive actions are designed not just to implement policy but also to solidify his influence and test legal boundaries.
“Trump is being more strategic than ever,” she said.
Litigation and Financial Pressure
Trump has frequently used financial leverage against institutions, capitalizing on their economic vulnerabilities.
He has also turned to litigation, securing settlements from major corporations like Disney and Meta. CBS News, another target of his lawsuits, faces pressure to settle due to its parent company Paramount’s efforts to gain regulatory approval for a merger.
However, not all of Trump’s actions have gone unchallenged. Many of his initiatives, particularly his efforts to cut government agencies and impose new policies, remain tied up in court. Judges have recently ruled against aspects of his deportation policies, legal attacks on firms, and restructuring of federal institutions.
In response, Trump and his allies have called for the impeachment of judges who oppose his policies, drawing rare criticism from Chief Justice John Roberts.
Walter Olson, a senior fellow at the CATO Institute, compared Trump’s approach to that of authoritarian governments.
“Undermining law firms and courts is a hallmark of autocratic rule,” Olson warned.
