"We are in a dangerous moment," and Donald Trump just signaled that, according to a former federal prosecutor.
Ex-prosecutor Joyce Vance, who also serves as a legal analyst for journalists, frequently discusses Trump's actions, especially when they crossover with the legal world. However, Trump's recent comment about how some Americans want a dictator caused the attorney to switch up her tone as she informed readers.
Declaring that "this administration is on the dictator track," Vance reported, "In an Oval Office ramble Monday, Trump, after calling Chicago a killing field, stumbled into saying 'a lot of people are saying maybe we’d like a dictator. I don’t like a dictator. I’m not a dictator. I’m a man with great common sense and a smart person.'"
This quote along with other recent Trump actions caused the lawyer to issue a call to action for all Americans.
"Armed National Guardsmen have been deployed in the District of Columbia to keep American citizens in line. Trump is trying to normalize the militarization of our country. This is where it starts, not where it will end. Trump is dropping the pretense of abiding by the rule of law. Sure, he still drapes himself in it enough that anyone who wants to can turn a blind eye and pretend that he’s complying with his oath of office, which requires him to support and defend the Constitution," she wrote. "But everyone who is paying attention and being honest with themselves understands that we are in a dangerous moment where Trump’s path toward authoritarianism is accelerating, and Americans need to wake up."
Going even further, the legal expert argues that "Trump trumps up excuses to justify doing as he pleases, which mostly involves accumulating more of the power of government in his own hands."
"A national emergency here, an invasion there. No matter what the truth is, he makes it up as he goes along, shamelessly lying about crime going up, when it’s in fact going down, and accusing agencies that release the statistics that contradict him of fraud when he’s called on the lies," she added. "This manner of operation makes it clear that it’s not about democracy and the American people; it’s about Trump and protecting Trump. It’s critical to make sure that the people around you understand this. It’s a week for serious conversations about what we need to do to protect the future of this country."
Additionally, Vance notes that Trump signed a new executive order in his ongoing efforts to takeover DC, calling the order "a thinly disguised effort to expand the use of the National Guard nationwide," which would be "a new leaf in the would-be autocrat’s playbook."