Reflections on Resistance to Authority

Lately, I’ve found myself pondering what it truly means to resist. It feels as though Congressional Republicans are, in a way, becoming like kings, perhaps unable—or unwilling—to confront Trump’s dictatorial tendencies.

Does he actually need to don a crown in the Rose Garden of the White House? The idea seems absurd. And what about the throne? Did he get inspiration from somewhere unusual?

I’m curious about how we can stop tuning out criticism regarding Trump’s military parades. These events feel like displays of power, especially when they occur alongside crackdowns on peaceful immigrants during weeks that see the deployment of military forces against American citizens.

This week, Senator Alex Padilla had a stark confrontation. He was physically removed and handcuffed while confronting Secretary of Homeland Security Christie Noem, passionately declaring that it’s not democracy but rather fascism when Los Angeles is deprived of its elected leaders.

Are those who support the president deceiving themselves, or are they deliberately misleading the public?

It may be a mix of both.

For those in power, the brutality and wrongdoing present in the administration seem to be part of an unfortunate strategy.

As someone involved in Project 2025, it was evident from the onset that Trump would seize power, skirting accountability.

Trump often claims ignorance regarding the intentions behind Project 2025, even as it appears to diverge from what many Americans desire.

It’s crucial to remember that he didn’t secure more than half of the votes. Since his presidency began, Trump’s popularity has significantly waned among the American populace.

This decline might explain why he and advisor Stephen Miller have ramped up their aggressive tactics against immigrants. They seem convinced that their base will rally behind anti-immigrant sentiments and support his orders to deploy troops against demonstrators.

I’m not so sure they’re right.

Many of Trump’s supporters—initially swayed by claims that his administration targets mostly violent offenders—are beginning to see the whole picture.

Portraying harsh measures as tough love, they have targeted hardworking individuals who contribute to society, often detaining them during routine appointments.

Even Florida Senator Ileana Garcia, a supporter of Trump, expressed disappointment: “This isn’t what we voted for,” she stated. While she recognizes the need to remove actual criminals, she critiques the current methods as arbitrary and unfair, which tarnishes Americans’ sense of justice.

Simultaneously, Trump’s influence has seeped into the military. His recent actions have turned military events into platforms for personal grievances, steering political attacks against perceived enemies.

Last week, after deploying the National Guard in Los Angeles, Trump addressed soldiers, treating them as instruments of his will rather than defenders of the country. Many veterans expressed discomfort over the partisanship displayed on military bases.

In discussions about Trump’s military parade, it’s often brushed aside as just a parade. Yet this time, it feels different and certainly not without implications.

Concerning his second term, skepticism appears warranted. He has blatantly disregarded federal judges and criticized justices who don’t align perfectly with him. His judicial nominations tilt heavily toward those loyal to his ideology.

Moreover, he seems to have eroded the checks and balances, attempting to rewrite the Constitution unilaterally and forcing various entities to bend to his will.

His approach to pardons has morphed into something more akin to an auction.

He has pushed against the boundaries of presidential authority, asserting powers that go beyond what he possesses.

And amidst this turmoil, Congressional Republicans are turning a blind eye, relinquishing their duty to oversee and uphold constitutional values, inadvertently fostering a shaky democracy.

Interestingly, the polls indicate that many Americans are more inclined to resist Trump’s authoritarian aspirations than some of the elected officials sworn to safeguard the Constitution.

While Congressional Republicans may choose to act as subjects to Trump, the general public seems far less willing to accept that.

Let’s stay active—whether on the streets or at the polls.