America stands at a constitutional precipice, and Henry Greenfield's latest commentary offers a stark, urgent analysis of what's at stake. As Donald Trump's self-proclaimed "golden age" unfolds, a dangerous pattern has emerged—one where judicial authority faces unprecedented challenges from the executive branch.
Greenfield meticulously dissects Trump's strategy: target universally despised groups, frame judges as defenders of criminals rather than the Constitution, attack even Republican-appointed judges as "rogue" or "radical," and gradually convince Americans that presidential authority should supersede judicial oversight. This playbook mirrors authoritarian tactics seen globally, from Hungary to Russia, where strongmen gradually dismantle democratic guardrails while waving the flag of patriotism.
What makes this moment particularly perilous is how it builds upon decades of careful conservative court-stacking. With a 6-3 Supreme Court majority and the systematic dismantling of reproductive and civil rights protections already accomplished, Trump now pushes toward the ultimate goal—positioning the executive as the supreme arbiter of what's constitutional. Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress have pledged complete fealty to Trump, abandoning their constitutional duty as a check on executive power.
The judiciary remains the last line of defense, but even there, Trump's influence grows. As Greenfield warns, "Soon we will be looking back on these times as the good times before Trump became totally unassailable." Constitutional experts from across the political spectrum are sounding alarms, recognizing this isn't about left versus right, but about the survival of the American republic itself.
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