Resistance is Not Futile: Upholding Civil Rights and Constitutional Norms to withstand Trump’s Autocratic Aims

Civil Rights Brief # 242 | Nicholas Gordon | April 30, 2025 

In his first 100 days in office, President Trump has pursued a sinister goal of autocracy by relentlessly attacking any and all forms of opposition and repressing civil rights and liberties. Trump’s radical, tyrannical actions have weakened opposition and undermined liberal democracy by: purging the government of democratic career civil servants and replacing them with incompetent loyalists; weaponizing government agencies, in particular the Department of Justice; simultaneously pardoning supporters who’ve engaged in acts of domestic terrorism while prosecuting law-abiding rivals; demonizing immigrants and minority groups; and threatening and punishing private citizens and public institutions, while rewarding billionaire donors and cronies with political favors and government contracts. Here’s a look at how Trump’s pernicious actions in each of those areas mirror The Authoritarian Playbook as defined by the nonprofit organization Protect Democracy; and a rundown on the ways that political leaders and private citizens can work to defend the integrity of the legal system and the American civic framework, and the independence of government agencies.

Analysis

Authoritarian leaders seek to rid the government of professional civil servants and replace them with loyalists. Trump has installed incompetent loyalists in key roles in numerous government agencies including the Pentagon, State Department, and the CIA. Trump’s picks not only lack the leadership experience for their designated roles, but they share Trump’s propensity for spreading disinformation, lies, and conspiracy theories, all of which sows public mistrust in key institutions and undermines democratic norms, putting the American people at risk. To cite but a few of the egregious examples, Trump chose “scandal-plagued” Kristi Noemas Homeland Security Secretary; the quickly exposed former Fox News blowhard Pete Hegseth as the Secretary of Defense; the conspiracy-theory super-spreader Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services; the trafficker of lies and conspiracy theories Kash Patel as the Director of the FBI; and the fan of Russian propaganda Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence.

Trump’s politicization and weaponization of the Department of Justice has included the termination or reassignment of career DOJ officials in positions of national security, ethics oversight, and public corruption investigations. Trump’s executive order for a takeover of independent regulatory agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), would exacerbate corruption by reducing oversight and shielding him and his billionaire cabinet members and business associates from accountability. Trump’s executive order “Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government” is a pretense that aims to enable his administration to do the very opposite. The order requires the intrusive step that the Attorney General “shall take appropriate action to review the activities of all departments and agencies exercising civil or criminal enforcement authority of the United States,” thus giving the Attorney General unprecedented power under Trump.

Autocrats also blame, bully, threaten, and punish civic institutions and private citizens viewed as rivals. In his first one hundred days in office, Trump has attacked rival politicians, media outlets, law firms, democratic fundraisers, judges, critics, universities, and business leaders. Trump’s simultaneous firing of prosecutors who investigated his role in the January 6 riot on the U.S. Capitol and his pardoning of nearly 1600 people convicted of offenses in the riot, including those who unleashed violent attacks on police officers, makes it clear that he tolerates political violence from his supporters over the rule of law. Trump’s mass deportation of immigrants without due process, including defying a court order requesting details on a wrongful deportation, further shows his contempt for the American legal system.

The Way Forward for Democracy

Independent judges still have power granted by the rule of law to block Trump’s attacks on private citizens and public institutions. Political leaders and lawyers must continue to defend judicial independence, the rule of law, and the U.S. constitution at large. Under the constitution, the First Amendment provides for the protection of fundamental freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. Major news organizations must take a stand for the integrity of independent journalism against threats from Trump over concern for their future profits. Through fact-based and fair reporting, the free press can continue to document the Trump administration’s violations of civil rights, so that the American people can hold the administration accountable.

Supporting and protecting the ethical work of career civil servants will help sustain democracy. Professional civil servants and nonpartisan policy specialists play a critical role in promoting transparency and accountability in the work of government bureaucracy. They help uphold democratic rules and norms, and standards of justice by investigating and prosecuting crimes, regulating the media and the economy, and helping ensure free and fair elections.

The American sociopolitical system has a venerable history of enabling citizens to affect political policies and legislation. Private citizens can continue to express their views through voting, town hall meetings, and protests and demonstrations, demanding equality and justice, and the civil rights that make for a strong democracy. We must not let these rights slip away.

Engagement Resources:

• Common Cause
  • A nonpartisan organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy
• Civil Service Strong
  • Nonprofit committed to supporting a career, non-partisan civil service and the people who power it
• Just Security

Independent, non-partisan law and policy journal focused on national security, democracy and the rule of law, and human rights