Trump: America’s first “imperial president” in a century

The United States is in an era of imperial presidential system, and Trump is the first truly "imperial president" in a century.
What will Trump do next? This issue was a matter of suspense ten years ago, but it is still the focus today. Since becoming the Republican front-runner, he has demonstrated extraordinary charisma - both personally and policy-wise. He is adept at redefining presidential power. In 2025, his second inauguration was held in the Capitol Rotunda, a symbolic location that had witnessed clashes between his supporters and the police four years ago. Shockingly, he exercised his presidential pardon power and pardoned these rioters on the day he took office. This power was originally used to resolve domestic political differences, but now it has become a "talisman" for the president's supporters. Under Trump, these so-called “traditions” seem to have become history.

Some historians set the end of the "long era" of the 19th century in 1914, and the end of the 20th century may be now. In Trump’s hands, many of the rules and regulations established in recent times have collapsed. For example, the governance reforms promoted after Watergate are no longer relevant today. The consensus of a "good superpower" established after World War II also disappeared with the changes of the times. Trump, on the other hand, wants more. He wants America to be free of all constraints: whether it's political correctness, cumbersome bureaucracy, or certain legal restrictions. His vision is a bit like combining the expansionism of the 19th century with the ambitions of the technological age of the 21st century.
In his inauguration speech, Trump once mentioned, "We want to take back the Panama Canal." This kind of expansionist expression has been a rare tone for US presidents in the past century. The only previous president he mentioned was William McKinley, a late 19th-century expansionist. During his tenure, the United States annexed Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico. McKinley also promoted a high tariff policy and received huge support from the big capitalists of the time, such as J.P. Morgan and Rockefeller. Trump seems to be using this to send a signal to the world that his "new golden age" will be like the McKinley era, full of bold expansion and the release of power.

However, Trump wields far more power than any president in the 19th century. Today, the federal government directly employs more than 4.3 million people and controls the most powerful military force in history. Federal spending as a share of gross national product was nine times what it was in the 1890s. In the 20th century, administrative power expanded dramatically in response to the two world wars and to promote racial equality. Historian Arthur Schlesinger called this strong presidential power "imperial presidentialism" in the 1970s. Although the term had a derogatory connotation at the time, in Trump's hands, it seemed to have become a target.
Trump not only wants to expand externally, but also tries to use the power in his hands to completely change the domestic political landscape of the United States. As partisan divisions grow, it becomes increasingly difficult for Congress to pass laws. Trump has shown during his first term that as long as Congress is evenly matched, the threat of impeachment is almost useless. This tilt of power makes the president and the courts the primary policymakers. From abortion to climate change to free speech, many key issues are dominated by these two. Trump has also made no secret of his enjoyment of gaming the courts. His proposed executive order to end birthright citizenship is clearly unconstitutional, but he seems to be expecting that outcome. The court's rejection will only inflame the anger of his supporters and increase the leverage for his next move.
Trump is good at disrupting the old order, but what the new order will look like remains unclear. His vision may bring about a more efficient government, a more prosperous economy, and safer borders; it may also push the United States into an abyss of uncertainty. No matter what the future holds, the U.S. system is undergoing an unprecedented stress test.