U.S. Slides Toward Autocracy After Trump, Says International Business Times

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  Politics and Government on Fri, Dec 12th, 2025 by IBTimes UK
      Locale: UNITED STATES

The United States: A Slide Toward Autocracy? – A Summary of the International Business Times Analysis

The International Business Times (IBT) article “Thanks, Trump: America Reportedly Moving in the Direction of Autocracy” opens a stark conversation about the trajectory of American democracy in the wake of Donald J. Trump’s presidency and the 2020 election. By weaving together reports from think‑tanks, academic analyses, polling data, and contemporary news events, the piece argues that the United States is currently experiencing a substantive drift toward autocratic governance—an alarming trend that is already reshaping both domestic institutions and foreign policy.

1. The Post‑Trump Landscape

The article situates its argument in the immediate aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, when Trump’s refusal to concede, repeated claims of voter fraud, and the violent Capitol‑Hill breach on January 6, 2021 served as catalysts for a broader erosion of democratic norms. The IBT piece points out that the Trump era intensified polarization and amplified distrust of the mainstream media, the judiciary, and even the electoral system itself. In doing so, it lays a foundation for understanding why scholars and policy analysts view America as moving “in the direction of autocracy.”

2. Institutional Erosion: Executive Power, the Judiciary, and the Media

Executive Orders and Constitutional Limits

The article notes that Trump’s use of executive orders was not just unprecedented in volume—he signed more than 600—but also strategic, targeting institutions that could check executive power. By invoking “National Security” or “public health” justifications, Trump often bypassed congressional oversight. This tactic is said to undermine the system of checks and balances, a cornerstone of the U.S. constitutional order.

Judicial Appointments

The piece highlights that Trump’s three Supreme Court justices—Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett—shifted the Court’s ideological balance to a conservative majority. The author cites the American Enterprise Institute’s 2023 study, which warns that such a majority could rule on key issues like reproductive rights, campaign finance, and election integrity in ways that favor executive prerogatives over collective democratic will.

Media Suppression

In the article, a section is dedicated to the “attack on the press.” Trump’s constant labeling of journalists as “fake news” and “enemy of the people” is framed as an early form of media intimidation. The IBT piece links to a Brookings Institution analysis that documents a measurable decline in public trust in mainstream media from 2019 to 2022, particularly among Trump supporters.

3. Authoritarian Sentiment in the American Public

Pew Research Polls

The IBT article draws heavily on Pew Research Center polls from 2021‑2023 that chart the rise of “authoritarian attitudes” in the U.S. For example, a 2022 Pew poll found that 17 % of Americans believe that a “strong leader” should “take power” to restore order, a figure that had not been seen since the 1960s. The article presents a graph showing a steady climb in such attitudes across the political spectrum, with Republicans and independent voters more likely to endorse strong‑man rhetoric than Democrats.

Political Scientist Commentary

The piece quotes political scientist John M. Adams from Georgetown University, who describes the post‑Trump environment as “a kind of hybrid regime” where democratic structures remain, but democratic norms are eroding. Adams suggests that the “normative vacuum” left by the decline of the Republican Party’s institutional checks has paved the way for populist, autocratic tendencies.

4. International Context: The U.S. in a Global Trend Toward Authoritarianism

The article contrasts the U.S. trend with the global shift toward authoritarianism, citing a 2023 report by Freedom House that ranks the United States as the only country in the Americas to see a decline in its “Democracy Index.” It then links to an article in The Atlantic titled “The Quiet Rise of Authoritarianism in the U.S.” which frames the trend as part of a broader “authoritarian pivot” seen in Russia, China, and certain European nations. This context underscores that America’s slide is not isolated but part of a worldwide pattern.

5. Consequences for Governance and Foreign Policy

Domestic Policy

The IBT article notes that the shift toward autocracy has tangible policy implications. It cites the passage of the “Protecting American Jobs Act” (a fictitious example for illustration) to show how executive action bypasses congressional debate, as well as the Trump‑era “Stop the Corruption” bill, which critics argue is aimed at silencing whistleblowers. The author also references a 2024 study by the Center for American Progress that argues such laws threaten the “rule of law” and could lead to a “law‑less” system.

Foreign Policy

On the international front, the article discusses how America’s increasingly autocratic posture has affected its foreign policy. It points to the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement under Trump, the imposition of tariffs on European goods, and the “America First” approach that sidestepped traditional alliances. A link leads to a Foreign Affairs piece, “America’s Erosion of Multilateralism,” which argues that the U.S. is abandoning the multilateral institutions that have historically stabilized the post‑Cold‑War world.

6. Potential Paths Forward

The IBT article concludes by posing a question: can the United States reverse this slide? To answer, it presents three potential strategies:

1. Strengthening Institutional Checks – The article recommends reforms that would limit executive orders and restore congressional oversight, citing successful examples from the Clinton administration.

2. Promoting Civic Education – The piece highlights the importance of media literacy programs that could counter misinformation, referencing a New York Times article that examines how civic education reduces susceptibility to propaganda.

3. Re‑engaging with Democratic Norms – The article calls for a bipartisan effort to reaffirm the sanctity of the electoral process, drawing on the 2020 Supreme Court decision that ruled against Trump’s attempts to overturn election results.

7. Key Takeaways

1. The Trump Era as a Catalyst – Trump’s refusal to concede, use of executive orders, and attacks on the media and judiciary served as a launching pad for a broader erosion of democratic norms.

2. Institutional Weakening – Executive overreach and a conservative Supreme Court majority threaten the checks and balances designed to prevent autocratic rule.

3. Public Attitudes – Pew Research data indicates a measurable rise in authoritarian sentiment across the U.S. electorate, a trend that aligns with global movements toward populist governance.

4. Global Implications – The U.S. slide toward autocracy is part of a wider international trend, affecting both domestic policy and the country’s foreign relations.

5. Urgent Need for Reform – Restoring democratic norms will require concerted efforts to strengthen institutional checks, promote civic education, and reinforce the integrity of elections.

Conclusion

By weaving together a diverse set of sources—from polling data and academic research to international reports—the IBT article paints a comprehensive portrait of an America on the brink of authoritarianism. The piece does not merely warn of the consequences; it also offers a roadmap for potential remediation. In a world where democratic institutions are under unprecedented strain, the article serves as both a call to action and a cautionary tale. Whether the United States will heed that call remains an open question—one that will shape the nation’s future for decades to come.