Seven months into his second term, President Donald Trump has unleashed an unprecedented wave of executive power, wielding the federal government to target universities, media outlets, law firms, and individuals he perceives as adversaries. Once a vocal critic of a “weaponized deep state,” Trump is now accused of supercharging government authority to pursue personal vendettas, a move that has energized his base but raised alarms among critics. “We have all the cards,” Trump declared earlier this year, a poker analogy he frequently uses to assert dominance over opponents, from China to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Trump’s actions began hours after his January 2025 inauguration, with a flurry of executive orders and personnel changes aimed at consolidating power. In August, he invoked a previously unused law to deploy federal agents and National Guard troops across Washington, D.C., seizing control of local law enforcement. Similar threats loom over Democratic-run cities like Baltimore, Chicago, New York, and New Orleans. Trump has also fired a Federal Reserve governor over unproven mortgage fraud allegations and targeted institutions with punitive measures. For instance, he threatened to block a stadium plan for the Washington Commanders unless it reinstated a racial slur in its name, revoked security clearances for attorneys at disfavored law firms, and slashed billions in federal research funds to elite universities, forcing settlements like Columbia University’s $220 million payout.

The administration’s moves extend to legal and political spheres. Attorney General Pam Bondi has initiated a grand jury review of the Trump-Russia investigation and appointed a special prosecutor to target New York Attorney General Letitia James and U.S. Senator Adam Schiff. On March 6, Trump signed an order against a prominent Democratic law firm, and on April 9, he directed the Justice Department to investigate former officials Chris Krebs and Miles Taylor from his first term. Additionally, Trump dropped corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams in exchange for cooperation on immigration policies, a move critics call political leverage.

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White House spokesperson Harrison Fields defends these actions as “wielding power” rather than weaponization, stating, “This is the most consequential administration in American history, putting America first and fulfilling the people’s mandate.” However, David N. Smith, a University of Kansas sociologist, argues that Trump’s supporters, who once decried government overreach, now cheer its use in the “culture war.” “They’re happy to see the state fight on their behalf,” Smith notes, highlighting the shift in sentiment among Trump’s base.

Trump’s approach, described as “epistemic liberation” by NYU professor emeritus Steven Lukes, involves bending facts and using memes to shape public discourse, a tactic unprecedented in modern liberal democracies. Despite campaigning against government weaponization in 2024, Trump vowed retribution, stating in 2023, “If you go after me, I’m coming after you!” His second inaugural address promised an end to such tactics, yet actions like targeting Krebs and Taylor suggest otherwise. With fewer traditional checks—such as resistant bureaucrats or legal advisors—Trump’s aggressive power play faces little opposition, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic norms as he reshapes the government to settle personal scores.

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