Trump’s Assault on Conservatism and the Constitution: A Ruthless Pursuit of Power

Trump’s Disdain for Conservatism: A Ruthless Pursuit of Absolute Power

As Donald Trump wages war against the judiciary and constitutional norms, the United States faces an unprecedented collision between authoritarian ambition and the rule of law.

On March 14, Donald Trump issued a sweeping declaration of war against perceived enemies within the U.S. government, launching a constitutional crisis that now threatens the core institutions of American democracy. His speech at the Department of Justice marked a sharp departure from traditional conservatism’s respect for limited government, rule of law, and individual liberties. Instead, Trump outlined a political philosophy rooted in the ruthless accumulation of absolute power.

"It’s going to be legendary," Trump promised, framing his campaign as a crusade to purge “rogue actors” and dismantle constraints on his authority.

But beneath his grandiose rhetoric lies a systematic attack on the judiciary, constitutional norms, and foundational principles that have defined American governance for over two centuries.

From Immigration Policy to Constitutional Crisis

At the heart of the current constitutional standoff is Trump's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1789 to justify the extrajudicial deportation and imprisonment of migrants without due process. Nearly 240 men were forcibly transported to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, operated by strongman Nayib Bukele — a move that drew immediate legal challenges and widespread condemnation.

Federal judges, including Patricia Millett of the D.C. Circuit, harshly criticized the administration’s actions, likening them to authoritarian abuses. “Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act,” Judge Millett noted, underscoring the magnitude of the due process violations.

The Shadow of Carl Schmitt and Emergency Power

Trump’s strategy evokes the legal theories of Carl Schmitt, the notorious Nazi jurist who argued that sovereign power is defined by the ability to declare a state of emergency. Trump’s approach — asserting authority over truth and legality — mirrors Schmitt’s doctrine, revealing a chilling affinity for authoritarian governance.

As Trump’s executive orders bypass Congress and defy court rulings, the United States edges closer to a model where “emergency” becomes the justification for unchecked executive power.

Legal Battles Escalate

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other advocacy groups quickly filed lawsuits against the administration’s deportations. In a landmark decision on April 7, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that detainees were entitled to due process — a rebuke to the administration’s claims of unfettered authority.

Despite the ruling, Trump and his allies, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, continued to defend their actions, framing the judiciary’s interventions as attempts to undermine national security.

Meanwhile, reports from CBS and Bloomberg revealed that the vast majority of deported individuals had no criminal records, further exposing the administration’s justifications as baseless.

A Conservative Break With Trump

In a powerful opinion issued on April 17, Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III — a Reagan appointee revered in conservative circles — delivered a thunderous condemnation of Trump’s actions. He warned that the administration’s defiance of constitutional norms posed a grave threat to American liberty:

"The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process... This should be shocking not only to judges but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans hold dear."

Wilkinson’s warning frames the stakes clearly: Trump’s battle is not merely political but existential, challenging the very framework of constitutional governance.

A Looming Collision

As legal battles continue to mount and the Supreme Court faces increasing pressure to intervene decisively, the United States teeters on the brink of a historic confrontation. Trump’s disdain for conservative constitutionalism, coupled with his authoritarian ambitions, demands that the judiciary — and the nation — choose between upholding the rule of law or capitulating to the unchecked will of a single man.

Sidney Blumenthal, a former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, is the author of three volumes of a projected five-volume biography of Abraham Lincoln: A Self-Made Man, Wrestling With His Angel, and All the Powers of Earth.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for in-depth analysis on the evolving constitutional crisis in America.