Over 24 hours, Trump’s authoritarian vision comes into focus (yes, again)

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Over 24 hours, Trump’s authoritarian vision comes into focus (yes, again) Every once in a while, the president has a day — a single 24-hour period — in which his authoritarian vision comes into sharp relief.

Sept. 17, 2025, 8:58 AM EDT

By Steve Benen

When Republicans complain about Donald Trump’s critics on the left using intemperate rhetoric, they often point to the frequency with which the president’s detractors accuse him of being an “authoritarian.” The complaints, however, tend to miss the point: The problem is with Trump’s actions, not with his opponents noticing those actions.

And then, every once in a while, the president has a day — a single 24-hour period — in which his