Plodcast Small Government Dictators | (Ep. 405)
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Dec 3, 2025 Douglas Wilson challenges the idea that Trump is a dictator, arguing instead that he aims for smaller government by reducing federal agencies and regulations. He counters comparisons to Hitler with Trump’s pro-Israel stance, presenting a different narrative. The discussion also delves into legal scrutiny against Trump, suggesting that his resilience hints at being remarkably 'clean.' Transitioning to theology, Wilson explores scripture relating to strife, referencing teachings from Jesus, Moses, and Paul, along with insights from Allison's Historical Theology.
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Shrinkage, Not Aggrandizement
- Douglas Wilson argues the charge that Trump wants to be a dictator is implausible given his actions to shrink federal power and cut regulations.
- Reducing agencies and regulatory friction runs counter to the typical dictator pattern of aggrandizing centralized power.
Power Patterns Versus Foreign Policy
- Wilson notes dictators seek centralized control, whereas Trump pursued policies favoring decentralization and deregulation.
- He uses Trump's pro-Israel stance as a rhetorical contrast to the behavior expected of historical dictators like Hitler.
Teflon Through Legal Scrutiny
- Wilson observes that legal attacks on Trump repeatedly failed or were reversed, making him appear unusually resilient legally.
- He suggests that if deeply serious crimes existed, investigators would have found and prosecuted them by now.
