The Authoritarian Playbook: How Trump’s Inner Circle is Reshaping American Governance
In his first term, Donald Trump’s administration lacked strong ideological cohesion. His cabinet was filled with individuals who often clashed with him, leading to a high turnover rate and public defections. Many former officials later issued harsh critiques of his leadership, exposing deep internal divisions. This time, however, things are different. Trump has assembled a government of loyalists—ideologically committed foot soldiers who share his vision and will execute his agenda without hesitation.
Beyond his official cabinet, Trump is also relying on a network of special advisers—influential figures like Elon Musk, who operate outside traditional government structures. These advisers don’t require Senate confirmation, allowing them to act unimpeded in their mission to dismantle what Trump calls the "deep state." Trump views the federal bureaucracy as a relic of Roosevelt-era liberal institutionalism, an entrenched power structure that resists his vision of government. His goal is not just deregulation but the wholesale destruction of the administrative state, eliminating agencies that enforce regulations and social protections. In doing so, he is replacing expert bureaucrats with loyalists—a reversal to the 19th-century "spoils system" that dominated before civil service reforms like the Pendelton Act and the Hatch Act were introduced to ensure a professional, nonpartisan government workforce.
Musk’s Role in Trump’s Illiberal Agenda
Trump’s alliances are often transactional, but his relationship with Elon Musk appears more deeply interwoven than many of his past partnerships. Musk is not just a convenient ally—he is a media gatekeeper, a major federal contractor, and a key player in industries deeply affected by government policy. His control over social media platforms amplifies Trump’s messaging, while his extensive business dealings with the government create a mutual dependence that extends beyond simple convenience. The sweeping deregulation—or outright dissolution—of federal agencies aligns with both their interests: for Trump, it accelerates his mission to dismantle the administrative state, and for Musk, it eliminates regulatory barriers that constrain his businesses, from emissions standards to space exploration.
But this partnership isn’t just about business. Trump and Musk share a broader ideological vision: the creation of a corporate-dominated system in which government oversight is crippled, civil rights protections are weakened, and social inequality deepens. This isn’t an unintended consequence—it’s the plan. By gutting the administrative state, Trump consolidates power in the executive branch, limiting oversight and empowering a small circle of handpicked advisers. Musk, in turn, benefits from a federal government that is too weak to regulate his industries but powerful enough to serve his interests. Unlike Trump’s past alliances, which often collapsed when they outlived their usefulness, this relationship is built on shared long-term goals rather than short-term political expediency—making it far more durable and potentially more dangerous.
When government contracts and civil administration concentrate in the hands of a select few, the effects ripple far beyond policy. As public sector jobs disappear and entire agencies are dismantled, millions face economic instability and political disillusionment. This breeds a kind of “learned helplessness” in which people—especially those reliant on government services or employment—become too demoralized to meaningfully resist the system. Hungary under Viktor Orbán offers a clear precedent: through the centralization of state contracts, the erosion of independent institutions, and the purging of bureaucrats in favor of loyalists, Orbán created a political environment where opposition is not just marginalized but psychologically paralyzed. As uncertainty about employment and the future grows, people become more willing to accept the status quo, either out of resignation or fear of retribution.
Trump’s model follows a similar playbook: consolidate power, dismantle oversight, and weaken opposition by fostering economic dependence on a government that serves only the loyal. The more government resources and decision-making authority become concentrated in the hands of Trump and his inner circle, the more the system shifts toward an entrenched authoritarianism sustained by apathy and economic coercion rather than outright repression.
The Road to Authoritarianism
This strategy is more than just a power grab. Trump’s second term is being shaped by Project 2025, a comprehensive blueprint for transforming the U.S. government, developed by the ultraconservative Heritage Foundation. This isn’t just about Trump’s personal ambitions—it’s about reversing decades of progressive reforms. The goal is to roll back the gains of the women’s liberation movement, civil rights activism, environmental protections, and more, reasserting conservative control over the country.
It’s no coincidence that many have drawn parallels between Trump’s presidency and the dystopian world of The Handmaid’s Tale. The push to reverse liberal social policies isn’t just symbolic—it’s foundational to the movement backing Trump. They see the progressive victories of the past century as threats to traditional hierarchies, white political dominance, and unchecked corporate power. By filling Washington with unwavering loyalists, Trump is ensuring that his agenda—and that of the ultraconservative movement backing him—faces no internal resistance.
No Counterweight to Trump
Unlike his first term, there is no significant counterweight to Trump within his administration. The usual institutional checks—the courts, the bureaucracy, independent agencies—are being systematically neutralized. This time, Trump and his allies came prepared. Compounding this, American voters have also delivered Congress to Trump, giving him a compliant legislature that will rubber-stamp his agenda rather than challenge it. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s 6-3 conservative supermajority further tilts the balance in his favor, ensuring that judicial oversight—a key institutional check—remains largely inoperative.
His second term is not just a continuation of his first. It is a deliberate, well-planned effort to reshape American governance, concentrating power at the top and dismantling democratic guardrails. With all branches of government aligned under his control, Trump is no longer constrained by the same forces that tempered his ambitions in his first term. As he and his loyalists take control, the question is no longer whether the system can restrain him—but whether enough institutional resistance remains to prevent a full-fledged authoritarian transformation.
