Trump's first 100 days challenge US presidential norms

In a return to the White House, US President Donald Trump has reignited speculation about the unpredictable nature of his leadership as his first 100 days have been marked by a notable consolidation of presidential power, pushing the boundaries of authority to nearly imperial levels.

"I think the second term is just more powerful," the 78-year-old Republican US president said during a recent event. "They do it — when I say do it, they do it, right?"

Driven by lingering sense of grievance from his previous term, which ended in the chaos of the January 2021 Capitol riots, Trump appears determined to reshape the political landscape.

On his first day, he freed hundreds of thoses involved in the Capitol attack, signalling a stark approach to his political adversaries.

"Trump 2.0 is far more authoritarian-minded and authoritarian in its actions than Trump 1.0," political historian Matt Dallek of George Washington University told AFP.

The atmosphere has taken on a reality show-like quality, with Trump frequently signing executive orders and engaging with reporters from the Oval Office. 

This flood of executive actions has raised alarms about an unprecedented assault on the foundational principles of American democracy and the established world order.

"We have seen certainly not in modern times such a sustained attack to unwind constitutional safeguards," added Dallek.

'Afraid'

Controversially aided by Elon Musk, the world's richest man, Trump has launched a drive to gut a federal government he regards as part of a liberal "deep state."

He has invoked a centuries-old wartime act to deport migrants to a mega prison in El Salvador, while warning that US citizens could be next.

He has dug in for a confrontation with judges, and forced a string of punishing deals on law firms involved in previous criminal or civil cases against him.

He has cracked down on the media — which he still dubs the "enemy of the people" — and limited access to news outlets covering him at the White House.

And he has launched an ideological purge, cutting diversity programs, targeting universities and even installing himself as head of a prestigious arts centre.

The US Congress, which is meant to have ultimate control over the government's purse strings, has been sidelined. Republicans have abetted his power grab while crushed Democrats have struggled to muster a response.

"We are all afraid," Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said recently.

"The president appears indifferent to formal, even constitutional, checks on his power," added Barbara Trish, professor of political science at Grinnell College.

On the foreign stage Trump has made territorial claims over Greenland, Panama and Canada, asserting a sphere of influence that echoes Russian President Vladimir Putin's expansionist bent.

Trump is meanwhile backed by a court of true believers. Aides with often fringe views, like vaccine-skeptic health secretary Robert Kennedy, take turns to praise him at cabinet meetings.

"Compared to the first term, the president has completely surrounded himself with aides who not only facilitate, but in some cases catalyze, his brazen power moves," added Trish.

'The King'

But Trump's comeback has highlighted some familiar themes.

Trump is closing out his first three months with approval ratings well below all other post-World War II presidents — except for himself, in his first term, according to Gallup.

And there are signs of the same volatile leader the world saw from 2017 to 2021.

Trump's wild televised meltdown in the Oval Office with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — abetted by hawkish Vice President JD Vance — deeply alarmed allies who were already unnerved by his pivot to Russia.

Then there was his introduction of sweeping global tariffs, only to reverse many of them after tanking global markets proved to be the only real check on his power.

When asked how he had reached one of his tariff decisions Trump replied: "Just instinctively."

The question now is whether Trump, who at one point referred to himself as "THE KING" on his Truth Social platform, will be willing to give up power.

Trump recently said that when he repeatedly mentioned a Constitution-defying third term he was "not joking."