Tragically, the president’s second term is already more lawless and more authoritarian than any in US history
In his first 100 days back in office, Donald Trump has made a strong case that his second term will be by far the worst presidential term in US history.
So many of his flood-the-zone actions have been head-spinning and stomach-turning. His administration seems to be powered by ignorance and incoherence, spleen and sycophancy.
Both he and his right-hand man, Elon Musk, with their resentment-fueled desire to disrupt everything, seem intent on pulverizing the foundations of our government, our democracy, our alliances as well as any notions of truth.
James Buchanan has set the bare extraordinarily high. To date, Trump still hasn’t even topped Hoover.
This isn’t in any way a defense of Trump, but modern Americans have this idea in their heads that every President in history was somewhere on spectrum of Bill Clinton and George Bush. The bitter truth is that the pre-FDR presidencies were so much fucking worse. Trump is right in line with your Andrew Johnsons and Zachary Taylors and Warren G. Hardings and Benjamin Harrisons. He is not exceptional in his awfulness. He is a reversion to the historical mean.