The likely unceremonious end to Trump’s power grab

I think its fascinating to watch the power grab that represents Trump’s second presidential administration, representing pulling nearly every lever of power at once that the President has at his disposal towards partisan and ideological ends. I am sure many Democrats are watching with eager eyes, just imagining how they can use the new found powers of the Presidency to get their partisan and ideological ends implemented. Climate emergency, anybody?

The truth is I expect there will be a sudden bipartisan effort to rain in the power of presidency at the end of Trump presidency come 2028, especially if it seems likely that Democrats are posed to take back White House as the 2020s come to a close. Democrats, horrified at how Trump used power to it’s all advantages will want to limit the power of future presidencies. But Republicans will likely buy into an effort to limit the Presidency, especially if the Democrats are posed to win election after four mediocre years under Trump. Republicans have all the incentives to bake in their gains, and while they may not want to handcuff future Presidents should they once again win the Presidency, the fear of a Democratic president in future will certainly inform their desire to rein in the office.

I don’t think there is a lot of future for the imperial presidency, that has grown stronger in recent decades and reached it’s pinnacle under Trump 2.0. If anything, he is likely to leave the office of Presidency quite a neutered office, with Congress doing much to rein in the office as he packs his bags one last time.