True authoritarians go much further, but Mr. Trump has already undone the post-Watergate depoliticization of the Justice Department. The Trump administration is conducting a military-style operation in an American city under dubious pretenses. The true goal seems to be instilling fear in people who oppose Mr. Trump’s agenda. Mr. Trump’s recent predecessors were not perfect on this issue, but he has reached another level. The Trump administration has sought to manipulate government information by, among other things, sidelining scientific experts.

Source: New York Times February 07, 2026 05:23 UTC