Last Updated on September 18, 2025 by ThePublic
In the shadow of the White House, where the stars and stripes once symbolized freedom and democracy, a dark fog of authoritarianism is descending upon the United States. It’s September 2025, and Donald J. Trump’s second term has devolved into a relentless assault on the very foundations of American liberty. From silencing the free press to strangling nonprofits and corporations that dare to dissent, to deploying military troops into the heart of American cities like an invading force, Trump is not just overreaching, he’s dismantling the republic brick by brick. This isn’t governance; it’s a power grab straight out of a dictator’s playbook, and it’s terrifying how quickly the MAGA faithful are cheering it on. If we don’t wake up now, the America we know will be nothing but a memory.
Weaponizing the State Against the Free Press: Trump’s War on Truth
Let’s start with the media, the Fourth Estate that’s supposed to hold power accountable. Under Trump 2.0, journalism isn’t under attack—it’s under siege. The administration has turned federal agencies like the FCC into blunt instruments of censorship, pressuring private networks to muzzle critics or face the consequences. Just look at the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel at ABC, a move that reeks of White House interference after Trump’s FCC threats over “biased” coverage. Kimmel’s crime? Daring to mock the president and his allies, like the late Charlie Kirk, in a monologue that hit too close to home. This isn’t isolated; it’s part of a blitz that includes a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit against The New York Times for simply reporting facts Trump dislikes. And don’t forget the funding cuts to NPR and PBS, justified as ending “taxpayer subsidization of biased media,” but really just a ploy to starve out any outlet that doesn’t parrot the administration’s line.
Trump’s rhetoric has always been venomous toward the press, “enemy of the people,” he calls them, but now it’s backed by action. Banning the Associated Press from White House briefings, suing CBS for “deceptive editing,” and even invoking foreign strongman tactics like Viktor Orbán’s media crackdowns in Hungary. Hundreds of political scientists agree, the U.S. is sliding toward authoritarianism, with Trump’s media war as a key accelerator. This isn’t about fairness; it’s about control. When late-night hosts like Kimmel and Stephen Colbert are forced off the air through backroom deals and regulatory threats, we’re witnessing the death of dissent. Trump’s not just mad at the media—he’s terrified of it exposing his empire of lies.
Crushing Corporations and Nonprofits: No Room for Dissent in Trump’s America
If the press is the canary in the coal mine, then private corporations and nonprofits are the next victims lined up for execution. Trump’s administration is on a crusade against any entity that doesn’t align with his MAGA agenda, using executive orders and IRS threats to bankrupt opposition. Liberal philanthropies, numbering over 100, are bracing for an “existential threat” as Trump eyes revoking their tax-exempt status for funding progressive causes. Nonprofits are sounding the alarm: over 120 groups have condemned the crackdown following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, fearing audits, funding freezes, and outright intimidation.
Take the anti-DEI executive orders—Trump’s not content with purging federal agencies; he’s targeting private corporations and nonprofits with civil investigations into “woke” initiatives. This rollback isn’t about merit; it’s about enforcing ideological conformity, stripping funding from organizations that promote equity or challenge his narrative. The Vera Institute warns that Trump’s “war on nonprofits” will make us all less safe, as he coerces them through funding cuts and threats of charitable status revocation. Even foundations trying to offset his cuts are under fire, accused of “partnering” with deadly policies.
This overreach echoes Project 2025’s blueprint for consolidating power across 20 federal agencies, devastating workers and communities in the process. Trump’s not building an economy; he’s building a fiefdom where only loyalists thrive. Private enterprise? Only if it bows to the king.
Military Marches into the Streets: The Posse Comitatus Nightmare Comes True
Perhaps the most chilling front in Trump’s authoritarian offensive is his blatant disregard for the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars the military from domestic law enforcement. Yet here we are, with troops patrolling American cities like occupiers in a war zone. It started in June with 4,100 National Guard and 700 Marines deployed to Los Angeles against Governor Gavin Newsom’s objections, ostensibly for immigration crackdowns but really to crush protests. By August, Washington, D.C., was next, and now Memphis is the latest target, with Trump signing a memorandum on September 15 to send in the Guard and federal law enforcement over local leaders’ pleas.
Chicago’s “probably next,” Trump boasts, escalating his push for military-led interventions in Democratic-run cities. Governors are split, but legal experts warn this normalizes federal troops on U.S. soil, eroding civil liberties and evoking authoritarian playbooks from global case studies. The ACLU’s National Security Project head calls it an “intolerable threat to individual liberty.” Republicans are eager for more, with Trump claiming the “right” to override states. This isn’t law and order; it’s martial law lite, a declaration of war on American citizens who don’t salute the flag of fascism.
The Authoritarian Playbook in Full Swing: Wake Up, America!
Trump’s seven most authoritarian moves so far, from dehumanizing immigrants to consolidating power, paint a picture of a nation on the cusp of competitive authoritarianism. Designating Antifa as a “terrorist organization” without evidence is just the latest ploy to label any opposition as enemies of the state, setting the stage for mass surveillance and arrests. Journalists hesitate to call it what it is, but scholars and citizens on platforms like X are screaming it: This is fascism in slow motion.
It’s illegal, unconstitutional, and utterly terrifying. Trump isn’t draining the swamp, he’s flooding it with his ego. Congress must impeach, courts must strike down these abuses, and We the People must resist before it’s too late. History will judge us: Will we let this authoritarian experiment succeed, or will we fight for the democracy our forebears died to build? The clock is ticking, and the troops are marching.