Donald Trump’s second term as U.S. President has been marked by mass firings, loyalty displays, and the use of federal power in ways that critics say cross the line into authoritarianism. In recent weeks, Trump has floated the idea of a third term, deployed the National Guard at home, and overseen ICE raids that historian Daniel Geary describes as efforts to “suppress democracy.” 

Geary, the Mark Pigott Professor of U.S. History at Trinity College Dublin, argues that Trump is concentrating coercive power under a loyal executive, undermining the autonomy of states and local authorities. He points to the firing of senior officials as part of a wider strategy that has weakened civilian agencies essential to public health and scientific research. Universities, too, have been targeted, with Geary warning that Trump’s attacks amount to “McCarthyism on steroids” aimed at destroying higher education as an institution. 

Yet the United States still has pockets of resistance. Geary highlights the courts as the most significant brake on Trump’s agenda, with dozens of legal challenges ongoing. But in Congress, Democratic leaders have been remarkably subdued, leaving many critics stunned at their inability to match the speed and ferocity of the President’s moves. Within the Republican Party, Trump’s personal grip has tightened further: his endorsement all but ensures the success of candidates loyal to him. 

So how close is America to sliding into authoritarianism? Geary has cautioned in the past that, while the US is not yet a fascist society, acting as if it is could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

Ciara Doherty is joined by Daniel Geary on today’s podcast to examine whether Trump’s latest actions are a mere extension of presidential power or evidence of democracy under siege. 

Email newstalkdaily@newstalk.com with your thoughts on today’s discussion.