Donald Trump: the would-be king
America is fated to wage a titanic struggle over the power of the president
IN HIS FIRST whirlwind month in office, Donald Trump has made his base exultant and left his opponents reeling. With his blitzkrieg, Mr Trump is trying to turn the presidency into the dominant branch of government. The question is how far his campaign goes before he is checked—if he is checked—and where it will leave the republic.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “The would-be king ”

From the February 22nd 2025 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the edition
A fantastic start for Friedrich Merz
The incoming chancellor signals massive increases in defence and infrastructure spending

The lesson from Trump’s Ukrainian weapons freeze
And the grim choice facing Volodymyr Zelensky
Western leaders must seize the moment to make Europe safe
As they meet in London, Vladimir Putin will sense weakness
Prabowo Subianto takes a chainsaw to Indonesia’s budget
The result? More money for the president’s boondoggles
Inheriting is becoming nearly as important as working
More wealth means more money for baby-boomers to pass on. That is dangerous for capitalism and society
Donald Trump has begun a mafia-like struggle for global power
But the new rules do not suit America