Donald Trump and Democracy

Last week, Rich made a good argument that Donald Trump would not be able to end American democracy if he won another term as president. One tries to avoid the circle of hell in which we debate Trump all the time, so I am glad to have written up my thoughts on this question already. (Summary for the impatient: I agree, at least in some subjective probabilistic sense, that Trump would not receive the help from officials and government entities that would be necessary for him to become a dictator; like Rich I would refocus discussion on other kinds of harms, though I am not as totally confident that the country will avoid low-probability disasters as he.)

I do have three further thoughts, or three ways of reemphasizing previous themes, to add to our purgatorial political discussion. They may have application beyond Trump.

About the Author

Jason Lee Steorts

Jason Lee Steorts is a former managing editor of National Review.

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Last week, Rich made a good argument that Donald Trump would not be able to end American democracy if he won another term as president. One tries to avoid the circle of hell in which we debate Trump all the time, so I am glad to have written up my thoughts on this question already. (Summary for the impatient: I agree, at least in some subjective probabilistic sense, that Trump would not receive the help from officials and government entities that would be necessary for him to become a dictator; like Rich I would refocus discussion on other kinds of harms, though I am not as totally confident that the country will avoid low-probability disasters as he.)

I do have three further thoughts, or three ways of reemphasizing previous themes, to add to our purgatorial political discussion. They may have application beyond Trump.