‘The worse, the better’: Expert says Trump risks falling into classic strongman trap

President Donald Trump will fall into a trap that a great many strongman leaders eventually do, former White House ethics expert Norm Eisen told the panel for MSNBC's "The Weeknight" on Monday: he will take things too far and enrage the public.

"You know, Norm, I think it strikes me as I'm listening to Donald Trump, and I think the administration knows these things are unpopular, yet they do not care. And that same '60 Minutes' interview, he was asked about the tactics that were being used specifically in Chicago. These viral videos of these just very brutal assaults, sometimes even on Americans that are taking place, these assaults that are happening, breaking people's windows, snatching them out of cars, the tear gas. And the president said they're not doing enough. They could go further."

"Here's the question," she continued. "He's done a lot in a little bit of time, Norm. I understand there's been wins in the courts. I get it, it's only been nine months and look at where we are. I am concerned about the next two months because he is in a race against time and he understands that. And I think what happens tomorrow in these elections could accelerate, frankly, his authoritarian tendencies."

Eisen had a few choice words of agreement — but had a stark warning to offer.

"Well, Symone, as you know, I was a diplomat and I travel abroad and I talk to other country representatives, people who have faced democratic backsliding and then reverse, made a U-turn," said Eisen. "And they think that the besetting sin, the greatest danger of self-destruction that dictators have, is overreach. In a sense, the phrase is the worse, the better."

"So the American people will not let him get away with that," he continued. "The courts alone won't save us. But the people are the ultimate guardrail and the ultimate safeguard. And I think we're seeing signs in and at the polls that they don't like it. So I'm hopeful that we will be strong enough to stand up to his shenanigans. You're right. They will get worse."

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