I have been vocal on social media (@commonsenseadvocacy) about the current Trump administration. I’ve shared AP articles, information from the ACLU and most recently buildtheresistence.org.

So I want to take a little bit of your time here to provide some of my thoughts and concerns, as well as some perspective I’m trying to gain, on this presidency.

Iron Fist Ruler

In his first two weeks as Commander in Chief, Trump has signed 45 executive orders. If you’re not paying close attention, some of this is missed in the headlines. For example, “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling” states that:

In recent years, however, parents have witnessed schools indoctrinate their children in radical, anti-American ideologies while deliberately blocking parental oversight. Such an environment operates as an echo chamber, in which students are forced to accept these ideologies without question or critical examination.

I, personally, have not seen any anti-American ideologies. In fact, isn’t America’s melting pot – all are welcome, and all means all – part of the very fabric of our nation? Isn’t it good for our kids to know and respect others even if they are different?

Compare the 45 executive orders to recent presidents. In his first year, Biden signed 77 orders. Trump is about 30 away from that in 2 weeks. In his first term, Trump only signed 55 orders in his first year – again, he is 10 away from that in 2 weeks! Others in their first year in office.

• 40 – Obama
• Bush – 54
• Clinton – 57
• Reagan – 50

Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the most, in 1937, with 256 Executive orders.

FDR is the only president to serve more than two terms in office. In 1951, Congress ratified the 22nd amendment to limit a president to two terms.

Bold and Manipulative

Some of what Trump has signed is simply a bold and brazen attempt to create change by force. It’s not always a conventional approach, but to give Trump credit, the outcomes may be desirable. For example, we are fighting a war on drugs in the United States. Trump appears to be using tariffs as leverage to curb the entry of fentanyl into the country.

Most Americans agree that the size of government is too big, and we need to rightsize it and lower our debt. Trump (and Elon Musk) have come in like two kids playing with blocks and just mutilated certain departments and initiatives. I don’t think it’s the idea that bothers people, it’s the bold and quick approach. It feels dictatorial.

Some of what he has done seems manipulative (at best). For example, he warned Republicans that there will be consequences if they don’t support all of his nominees. Here we have career politicians who appear to be willing to follow Trump even to the most extreme right wing ideals (drain the swamp, unless it’s convenient not to?).

Dictatorial or Authoritarian?

A concern of mine is that Trump has slowly built up a base of Americans that are willing to follow everything he says and does, no matter the legality or cost.

Some of the most chaotic moves that have been made by Musk and Trump have been to attempt or successfully shut down government departments, without an act of Congress. An act of Congress requires a bill to pass through both houses with a majority, then signed into law by the president.

There is one caveat to all of this, which perhaps Trump is hoping to find a loophole? Congress can grant reorganization authority to the president to allow for changing and reorganizing the government. This ability was extended first in 1932 and authorized on 16 occasions since. The last successful reorganization request was in 1984 (Reagan). Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama requested and were denied.

So far, no authority has been granted by Congress to Trump, thus making his executive orders unconstitutional and authoritarian in nature.

His recent aggressive threats to “take over” Gaza by force if needed and to deport illegal immigrants to Guantanamo Bay feel Hitler-esque to me.

Chaos and Confusion

While all of this chaos and confusion is happening, Republican members of congress have quietly introduced bills like carving Trump’s likeness into Mount Rushmore, H.R. 59 to condemn Reverend Mariann Edgar Buddle’s sermon at the National Prayer Service on January 21 as an act of political activism.

While the dust makes it hard to see, there are both very impactful and waste of time bills that are largely going unnoticed by the media. This is really not new – chaos makes great headlines. In this case it just seems to be chaos by design in the Trump administration.

Concluding to Join a Resistance

Violent insurrectionists aside, as Democrats have critiqued as January 6th protesters for not accepting President Biden’s victory in 2020 (the election was rigged!), a lesson that should be learned by all Americans is that it is our constitutional right to protest and free speech. In January 6 case, Trump has even condoned violence.

So starting today, my conclusion is that because of the reasons outlined above for my disapproval of the current regime, I will be joining buildtheresistance.org in challenging the legality of what Trump has done so far and using my skills as a writer to speak out for what I think is right and fair, in the name of social justice.