Donald Trump didn’t come back to Washington to govern. He came back to dominate headlines. That’s the point. The shouting, the threats, the made-for-TV moments — they’re not part of a strategy. They are the strategy.
Trump’s second term is a masterclass in chaos masquerading as strength. Beneath the bluster and bombast lies a presidency marked by failure, disruption, and a disregard for the very institutions meant to uphold democracy.
Under Trump’s presidency, there’s nothing real. No plan. No structure. Just chaos dressed up as a strategy.
Let’s look at the record.
Legislative Stalemate
Trump has signed a mere five bills into law, with the most notable being the Laken Riley Act. His much-touted “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed the House but faces an uphill battle in the Senate. In comparison, Presidents Biden, Obama, and even George W. Bush passed more legislation and relief packages within their first 100 days. Trump’s legislative record is among the weakest in modern presidential history.
Executive Orders Without Substance
While Trump has issued a record number of executive orders, many are symbolic, redundant, or immediately challenged in court. For instance, his attempt to end federal support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs was largely blocked by a federal judge, who found the orders likely violated constitutional rights, including free speech.
Immigration Crackdown Backfires
Trump’s aggressive immigration policies have led to widespread protests and economic disruptions. In Los Angeles, intensified ICE raids sparked massive demonstrations, some turning violent. The administration’s plan to deport one million immigrants annually has drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, with concerns about its impact on the workforce and economy. Industries reliant on migrant labor, such as agriculture and hospitality, are struggling to find replacements, leading to disruptions in operations.
Institutional Pushback
The judiciary has served as a check on Trump’s overreach. The Supreme Court blocked his attempt to rescind Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), calling the move “arbitrary and capricious.” More recently, it halted the administration’s plan to deport Venezuelan nationals under the Alien Enemies Act. These decisions underscore a pattern: Trump pushes, but institutions push back.
The Illusion of Power
Trump’s unpredictability on the global stage has unsettled adversaries. There is some deterrent value in erratic leadership, but this isn’t strategy; it’s volatility. Volatility doesn’t build trust—it frays it. Meanwhile, Congress still debates, states resist federal overreach, and independent agencies function. Foreign governments still call Washington first. They may grit their teeth, but they haven’t walked away.
But despite the turmoil, democracy has not collapsed. The apocalypse hasn’t arrived. No military coups. No canceled elections. Democracy hasn’t died. It’s just been battered — flickering but not out.
The Real Threat
MAGA, for all its fury, is not a governing ideology; it is a personal brand. Without Trump, it collapses. No other Republican has replicated his media dominance or party control. And even he is losing his grip. The longer this term drags on, the less fearsome he appears.
In that sense, the real threat is not his power; it is the illusion of power and our tendency to confuse chaos with transformation.
America has survived presidents who tested the boundaries of power—Nixon, Wilson, even Jackson. Each time, it bent. Each time, it corrected. Each time, it stood again. Trump is not the end of the American experiment. He is a stress test—one we are passing, barely, but undeniably. Yes, we’ve been wounded. But we’re still standing.
As Winston Churchill once said, “You can always count on Americans to do the right thing—after they’ve tried everything else.” We’re trying everything else. The right thing is coming.
