Even before former President Donald Trump has secured himself a second term in the 2024 election, he has effectively carved out for himself a "fourth branch of government" from which to exercise a new and disturbing kind of political power, wrote Harlan Ullman for the Miami Herald.
This comes as the former president is facing the first of his four criminal trials, and political observers speculate how a potential conviction in this case could affect his standing among voters and among the Republican base specifically.
"Former President Donald Trump has achieved a political masterstroke unmatched in 235 years. He is now the fourth branch," wrote Ullman.
To begin with, Ullman wrote, he has captured the judiciary by appointing three Supreme Court justices and a large number of federal court seats — and many of these judges are scheduled to hear his claims he is immune from the presidency. Even if they reject that argument, their decision to take up the case already bought him considerably delay in his trials.
Things aren't much different in Congress, Ullman stated. "About the legislature, Trump has quelled any dissent through the threat of primarying — that is supporting an opponent — to end the incumbency of someone who falls out of line with the president. In the Senate, Trump eviscerated Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell who had the longest tenure as a GOP leader.
"Although Sen. Lindsay Graham may have parted company over abortion, Trump can easily tolerate minor defections. And if Republicans win the Senate in November and Trump is elected, he will control that body as no president before him has."
He holds similar power in the House, effectively setting the legislative agenda through Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), the writer stated.
That leaves the presidency, which if Trump wins in November, will have far more serious consequences than last time.
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"When Trump took office in January 2017, to say he was ignorant of how government and the presidency worked would be understatement. The same applied to foreign policy," wrote Ullman.
"Trump however is a quick learner. Armed with a handbook written by the Heritage Foundation called 'Project 2025' on staffing his government if elected, make no mistake. Trump knows how to use the levers of power, legally or otherwise."
If the Founding Fathers returned to America today and saw Trump, Ullman concluded, then, "Asked about his comment that America can have a republic as long as it can keep it, Benjamin Franklin might likely confirm his belief. But he would surely conclude that the days of keeping a republic were certainly numbered."
