A CNN analysis details seven concerning power-consolidating actions taken by former President Donald Trump during his second term, testing constitutional boundaries and democratic norms. The unprecedented measures include domestic military deployments, weaponized investigations, and institutional coercion that experts warn could reshape presidential authority.
Aaron Blake’s analysis identifies Trump’s systematic efforts to expand executive power since returning to office in January 2025. The actions specifically target checks on presidential authority, with Trump openly disregarding traditional limits while testing legal boundaries through executive orders, appointments, and selective enforcement of laws.
The most significant moves include deploying National Guard troops in Washington D.C. and Marines in Los Angeles – unprecedented domestic military use during peacetime. Trump has also launched investigations against opponents involved in prior investigations of his administration, while replacing nonpartisan officials like the Bureau of Labor Statistics chief with political loyalists.
Economically, Trump continues imposing tariffs through claimed emergency powers despite this being constitutionally delegated to Congress. He has also defied a bipartisan TikTok divestment law through indefinite delays, ignoring national security concerns he previously endorsed. Immigration enforcement has seen due process violations through wrongful deportations and defiance of court orders.
These actions have eroded institutional independence and democratic safeguards. The investigations create chilling effects on oversight, while politicized data agencies undermine economic credibility. Military deployments establish precedents for domestic troop use, and tariff overreach weakens congressional authority.
The administration shows no signs of reversing course, with Trump discussing expanded military deployments to other cities. Legal challenges continue regarding immigration enforcement and tariff authority, but congressional pushback remains minimal. Analysts warn these actions could permanently shift power toward the executive branch regardless of future administrations.