Donald Trump commenced his return to power with a blitz of actions chiefly aimed at derailing the remnants of his political opponents. The adjunct activities of his vengeance could be seen from day one as he impetuously dismissed the security detail of Dr. Anthony Fauci. This was one in a series of relentless attempts to sidestep perceived enemies and to seize his newfound authority, both governmental and military.
In a flurry of maneuvers, Trump sought to turn the tide against those individuals who had previously dared to criticize him. He began by rescinding security clearances of his detractors. Those affiliated with his first tenure were stripped of their security details. In a somewhat vindictive style, Trump publicly declared the dismissal of his detested rivals.
The axis of attacks didn’t stop there. Dropping hints about a comprehensive probe into his predecessor, Joe Biden, and other critics, it seemed as though Trump was taking another shot at obtaining vengeance. Whether these hints willna brash escalations in the Trumpian Justice Department, or stay as mere teasers, only time could reveal.
A clear indication of this ongoing power-play was the prompt redistribution of at least 20 veteran officials from executive spots to places relatively unknown. Regardless of their longstanding service in their respective positions, they had to brace themselves for unforeseen changes according to Trump’s whims. All things considered, Trump’s first-week speech indicated that he was not done yet. Not even close.
One particular grouse that Trump couldn’t resist spewing about was Biden’s anticipatory pardons, particularly targeting perceived enemies such as former Rep. Liz Cheney. In a surprising instance, he insinuated during an Oval Office interview that Biden missed an opportunity to pardon himself. By revoking clearances and security details, Trump explicitly marked his firm stance.
Trump plunged deeper, revoking the clearances of 51 ex-intelligence officials who had in 2020 argued the hunter Biden’s emails bore traces of a Russian information operation. Needless to say, this move was a piercing blow aimed at disarming his political critics. Although Republican-led congressional investigations already had this letter in their crosshairs, Trump’s revocation was an unprecedented maneuver.
Among those targeted was his ex-Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, who was notoriously vulnerable to threats from Iran, and the beleaguered Dr. Fauci. Given the persistent threats to his life in relation to his public role in the Covid-19 pandemic, Fauci was obligated to sign up for private security funded from his own pocket.
Trump’s efforts to morph the face of the federal workforce did not end there. He launched an all-out attack to extinguish the so-called ‘deep state’ entrenched within the governmental system while singling out federal workers prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Trump’s weapon of choice? A new executive order making it more effortless to fire federal workers.
Additionally, telework policies took a hit across all federal agencies. Employees were mandated to report at the office instead of comfortably working from home. Simultaneously, staffers at federal DEIA offices were packed off on paid administrative leave, thus effectively diffusing their influence on federal matters.
On an early Tuesday morning, the country woke up to Trump declaring the removal of four notable figures from presidential advisory boards. This list included José Andrés, renowned chef and restaurateur; ex-Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley; former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; and Brian Hook, a high-ranking official in Trump’s first administration. This was a blatant attempt to use his reinstated power to cut ties with those he disfavored.
During his 2024 presidential run, Trump had made a consistent point of insisting that those opposing him deserved to be incarcerated. This included agents of the Biden regime’s Justice Department who had dared to indict him and stalwarts of the House select committee probing the attack on the U.S Capitol on January 6, 2021. Currently, recycling this hard-hitting rhetoric, Trump fails to acknowledge that many of his targets had been preemptively pardoned by Biden.
At the onset of his latest tenure, Trump dictated the Justice Department and Office of the Director of National Intelligence to open extensive investigations into Biden’s alleged misuse of law enforcement and intelligence agencies. A classic example of Trump using his presidential powers to seek relentless revenge against his critics.
Furthermore, in his path to rewrite the events of January 6, he granted pardons to over 1,000 individuals implicated in the Capitol attack. Overshadowing many of his past actions, this was a striking attempt to alter the history of the Capitol riot and his failed efforts to reverse the results of the 2020 election, which had culminated in now-dropped federal charges against him.
Undoubtedly, if Trump decided to command his Justice Department to probe into Biden’s activities, he could anticipate considerable resistance, courtesy of his own legal disputes. Recalling the last year, the Supreme Court had ruled in Trump’s case against the special counsel’s January 6 indictment that presidents enjoy ‘absolute immunity’ concerning their official actions.
With the first week characterized by such monumental actions from Trump, one can only speculate about what the coming weeks have in store. However, it’s evident that Trump is leaving no stone unturned to settle old scores and re-establish his dominance in his unique, unorthodox way.