The Debate Bully pulpit: One year on, Trump tests limits of executive power
Jan 20, 2026
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor and expert on authoritarianism, delves into Trump's retributive actions and the hollowing of institutions. Anne-Lauren Bujon, a magazine editor and advisor, highlights the chilling normalization of militarized tactics and the erosion of legal constraints. Journalist Damien Alou examines how social media shapes political messaging, pointing out the dangerous reliance on viral content for policy decisions. Together, they dissect how Trump's influence reverberates across global politics, pointing to a troubling blend of power, grievance, and spectacle.
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Executive Power As Retribution
- The second Trump term weaponizes executive levers to punish adversaries and reshape norms.
- Ruth Ben-Ghiat warns loyalist-filled inner circles convert erratic conduct into governing strategy.
Personality Plus Enablers
- Trump's behavior mixes pathological ego with intentional enabling by loyalists.
- Anne-Lauren Bujon says enablers try to turn whims into doctrine like a 'Don Rowe' approach.
Foreign Policy Through Plunder
- Ruth Ben-Ghiat links Trump's moves (Greenland, NATO stance) to plunder and geopolitical advantage for Putin.
- She argues lawlessness domestically correlates with contempt for international law.
