Accelerating Authoritarian Dynamics: Assessment of Democratic Decline - Periodic Update

Democracy Sitrep | May 2026

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We assess that President Trump’s chronic need to reward loyalists and appease dictators is a primary driver of America’s path toward authoritarianism. Trump’s creation of a $1.776 billion slush fund to reward anyone claiming they were “persecuted” by the Biden Administration suggests he may see a need to remind people who have proven willing to use violence on his behalf of what is at stake in upcoming elections, securing their loyalty and possible engagement in advance. Trump’s visit to China provided him the opportunity to pander to Chinese dictator Xi Jinping, complimenting his appearance and leadership and even allowing three Chinese vessels to leave the Strait of Hormuz, while suggesting Taiwan is a bargaining chip—a reversal of decades of US policy—and brushing off claims China is inserting malicious code into US infrastructure by saying “we do stuff too.” Trump’s affinity for dictators is sufficiently deep that he reportedly refers to himself in private as a peer of Alexander the Great, Napoleon, and Caesar, and, if that’s true, he is nearly certain to move beyond pandering to dictators and closer to emulating them—suggesting a wild ride for Americans weary of authoritarian policies in the runup to the midterms.

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Executive Overreach/Weaponization of the State

The Trump Administration will download the White House app onto the government-issued phones of every executive branch employee, creating a constant feed of Trump truth social posts and other propaganda in front of federal employees. This move will likely also have the impact of making employees feel Trump is always watching, and that Trump is the state; for historical context, this is why Mussolini placed images of himself throughout Italy, and especially in Rome. This violates both the letter and the spirit of the US Constitution.

In an aggressive truth social post befitting an autocrat, Trump demanded favorable rulings from Republican-appointed justices, particularly those he appointed, saying “they have to do the right thing, but it’s really okay for them to be loyal to the person who appointed them…”

Trump’s $1.776 billion slush fund, for which there will be no oversight beyond a five-member panel appointed by acting Attorney General and personal attorney to Trump Todd Blanche, was formally rolled out. Trump has encouraged anyone who believes they were targeted for prosecution by the Biden Administration to apply for compensation, and won’t rule out payments to convicted January 6 insurrectionists. Conversely, Former FBI Director Jim Comey, who actually has been the victim of executive branch weaponization, was indicted—again—for sharing a social media post containing a picture of some seashells arranged as “8647” that he discovered on a trip to the beach. Trump has claimed this is a threat to his safety.

Always looking to exact retribution, Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering ending customs and immigration processing in international airports in sanctuary cities to punish those cities for not cooperating with ICE. This would effectively shut down international travel into those cities—which reportedly include Atlanta, New York City, Philadelphia, Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago, Newark, Seattle, and San Francisco—and have a negative impact on the national economy.

Ignoring the First Amendment prohibition against establishing a state religion, the White House on 17 May co-sponsored a “rededication” event on the National Mall, calling it a day of prayer and repentance to mark the 250^th anniversary of America’s founding. While Trump preferred golf to prayer, the event broadcast a video he made for a separate event weeks prior, in which he read a series of verses from II Chronicles—which, in case it isn’t evident, wasn’t addressing America— highlighting the importance of repentance. Still no word on whether or not Trump felt compelled to finally repent (note: Trump was asked years ago if he has ever repented, and he said he has never felt the need).

Giving America’s enemies a heads up on White House security plans, Trump announced that his planned ballroom on the grounds of the White House would include a “drone port” on its roof before detailing numerous other security features.

Weakening Judicial Independence

Charges were dropped against the remaining members of the “Broadview Six,” arrested for an anti-ICE protest outside of a facility in Broadview, IL when “significant errors” in the grand jury process were revealed; specifically, after a grand jury failed to support charges, those opposed were asked to leave the room and prosecutors tried again. The judge hearing this case was so outraged that she dismissed the case with prejudice—charges cannot be sought again.

Rebuffing efforts by the Trump Administration to create a database of all “eligible” voters in America, federal judges in Maine and Wisconsin dismissed Department of Justice lawsuits meant to compel these states to hand over detailed voter registration information. The Maine judge, a Trump appointee, rightfully noted that states have the constitutional authority to oversee elections. Efforts by the Trump Administration to access voter rolls have been thwarted in at least seven other states.

Legislative Weakness

Showing signs of life once again, there is bipartisan opposition to both Trump’s $1.776 billion slush fund and to the $1 billion requested by the White House for “security measures” at Trump’s ballroom, forcing the Senate to postpone an effort to pass legislation to fund the immigration agencies housed under the Department of Homeland Security until June. Both the Senate and the House are now in recess.

Before heading to that recess, however, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson refused to bring a vote on legislation that would end Trump’s war with Iran to the floor of the House this week when he realized the vote would not go Trump’s way.

Systemic Electoral Flaws

The Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, allowing states to engage in racial gerrymandering under the guise of partisan gerrymandering. A majority in Louisiana v Callais ruled that as long as redistricting is not racially motivated, states may engage in redistricting meant to give a single party a majority—or all—of a state’s House seats. It should be noted that race and political party are correlated, and it is very easy to disguise racial gerrymandering with partisan gerrymandering.

Virginia’s redistricting plans—undertaken in response to Trump’s demands for five new Republican seats in Texas, and which likely would have given Democrats several new seats--have been thwarted by a state Supreme Court ruling that process was not followed before allowing voters to vote on a new map in a referendum last month. That state’s new map will not be allowed to be used. The United States Supreme Court refused to hear this case. However, a federal court in Alabama blocked that state’s attempt to use a new map that eliminated one of two minority-majority districts, stating that race was a factor in the redrawing of that map. Alabama’s Attorney General has vowed to appeal.

Undermining Faith in Public Institutions

Raising questions about priorities and casting the FBI director in a less-than-serious light, the FBI and US Navy allowed Kash Patel to go snorkeling in the waters above and around the USS Arizona, which has rested at the bottom of Pearl Harbor since December 7, 1941 and is the final resting place for hundreds of sailors and marines.

Civil Society/Media

Trump called ABC News reporter Rachel Scott “one of the worst” and referred to her question about the reflecting pool as “stupid’; other reports indicate he may have referred to her using a term that degrades women. Even Fox News is not immune to Trump’s ire, as he refused to answer a question about the war with Iran from Fox reporter Jacqui Heinrich earlier this month, preferring instead to complain about her fiancé, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), who has on occasion voted against Trump initiatives, including his Big Beautiful Bill and, more recently, against Trump’s war with Iran.

In a move that will send a chill throughout immigration related civil society groups, Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced a joint resolution calling for a constitutional amendment to mandate that only natural born citizens can run for Congress, be appointed to federal judgeships, or hold any Senate-confirmed appointed position in the executive branch. This move is meant to target Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who is mentioned several times in Mace’s press release.

Founded in 2016, The Steady State is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization of more than 400 former senior national security professionals. Our membership includes former officials from the CIA, FBI, Department of State, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security. Drawing on deep expertise across national security disciplines, including intelligence, diplomacy, military affairs, and law, we advocate for constitutional democracy, the rule of law, and the preservation of America’s national security institutions.