(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Marilou Royean joins a No Kings demonstration at Pioneer Park in downtown Salt Lake City on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Historians sometimes warn that when societies are descending into fascism, citizens may not notice until it’s too late. Well, Utah, it’s happening. Right now. Lovers of democracy must protest.
The mayhem of Trump 2.0 — bypassing Congress with executive orders, DOGE-led dismantling of the civil service, imposing illegal/unconstitutional tariffs, freezing congressionally appropriated funds, bombing Iranian nuclear sites, pushing the “Big Beautiful Law” — traces back to a far-right policy manifesto: Project 2025.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump claimed to disavow Project 2025. Yet he is using it to dismantle the checks and balances that define American democracy and to create an imperial presidency.
Like a prototypical autocrat, Trump has abused federal power to intimidate law firms, universities and businesses into acquiescing to his undemocratic — and often illegal — policies. Unchecked by his party, the Trump family has corruptly amassed billions of dollars while in office.
Trump’s extremist immigration policy tramples Americans’ constitutional rights to free speech, protection from unreasonable search and seizure, and due process of law. Worrisomely, Trump has fired 15 senior officers and installed an unqualified loyalist, Pete Hegseth, as Secretary of Defense.
Meanwhile, the Trump DOJ is abusing its power by baselessly indicting/investigating its political enemies — Comey, James, Schiff — while shielding corrupt allies — Homan, Epstein, Adams.
Lower courts have pushed back, slowing his march toward full autocracy. But the Supreme Court’s far-right majority has largely enabled Trump and cannot be relied upon to defend democracy.
In the end, it’s up to us. Our democracy is under assault from an enemy within. That enemy is Donald Trump. Join me on “No Kings Day,” October 18, for a day of peaceful national protest. Let’s tell Trump, emphatically, that in America the Constitution — and the rule of law — not any man — is king.
Justin F. Thulin, Salt Lake City
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