President Donald Trump began his second presidential term with an autocratic offensive aimed at consolidating power in his hands while bending public and private institutions to his will. But 10 months on, what seemed like a speed-run to autocracy has smashed into a roadblock of opposition, disapproval and a fracturing coalition.
The steady stream of setbacks started for Trump in September and has not let up. Democrats swept the Nov. 4 elections. Blame for the nation’s longest government shutdown fell at Trump’s feet. Universities roundly rejected Trump’s compact to impose ideological control. Late night host Jimmy Kimmel wasn’t fired despite Trump’s best efforts. Trump’s mid-decade redistricting push appears likely to backfire. The Supreme Court looks ready to strike down Trump’s tariff policy. And Trump’s retribution campaign against his perceived enemies have foundered in court in humiliating fashion.
But this is just the tip of the iceberg for Trump’s troubles. Following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Republican Party has begun to fracture over the invitation of the antisemitic, racist influencer Nick Fuentes into the party’s tent. Trump has even begun clashing with his closest allies, as a break with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) led her to resign from Congress. Greene was part of the initial faction of the party that broke from Trump to support legislation to release the Epstein files. What began as a minor faction bucking Trump’s wishes turned into a wholesale jailbreak as all but one Republican in Congress wound up supporting the bill after months of Trump trying to stop it.
