Wed Apr 30 11:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Trump’s Second Term: A 100-Day Assessment of Authoritarianism and Economic Chaos

**Washington D.C.** – Donald Trump’s second 100 days in office have defied expectations, not through traditional measures of presidential success, but through a dramatic dismantling of democratic norms and a descent into economic uncertainty. Unlike the transformative first 100 days of Franklin D. Roosevelt, which saw sweeping legislative action, Trump’s term has been marked by a lack of major legislation and policies that have exacerbated existing economic issues.

While failing to meet traditional benchmarks of presidential achievement, Trump’s actions have been undeniably consequential. He has systematically undermined the federal bureaucracy, installing loyalists, and leveraging investigations and threats to silence opposition. His administration’s actions, particularly in immigration enforcement, have raised concerns about the erosion of the rule of law. The comparison to Viktor Orbán’s authoritarian regime in Hungary is striking, with a similar pattern of consolidating power and suppressing dissent, despite the demonstrably poor economic outcomes of that model.

Key appointments, such as handing significant power to Elon Musk with his proposed (and ultimately unfulfilled) budget cuts, and entrusting public health to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have raised serious concerns about competence and the prioritization of loyalty over expertise. These choices, coupled with deep cuts to scientific research and aggressive trade policies, have already shown signs of a “brain drain” similar to that seen in Hungary.

Trump’s trade war, described as a “madman theory” strategy, has inflicted significant damage on the US economy, resulting in rising inflation and forcing the Federal Reserve to reconsider interest rate reductions. Rather than addressing this self-inflicted economic wound, Trump has focused on culture wars and attacking political opponents.

The long-term consequences of Trump’s actions remain largely unknown, but the damage to the federal bureaucracy and the potential for economic recession are significant. The clash between Trump’s desire for authoritarian rule and his inability to govern effectively has created a volatile situation, pitting a weaponized state against a growing political backlash. The coming months will be critical in determining the fate of this increasingly unstable situation.

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