Everyone is expecting his government to still follow the established rules
Realistically, the government will be forced to continue to follow the established precedent and constitution until the moment its not. When it will go off the rails and what to expect are entirely unknowable, but ultimately every institution relies upon and expects the United States federal government continuing to function and enforce the rule of law.
Most likely, if Trump is successful at becoming a dictator, it won’t be by breaking the rules but simply changing them. Lukashenko of Belarus was elected to their position, then changed the rules to hold onto power. Putin of Russia continues to be elected to his position and changes the rules to hold onto power. Erdoğan of Turkey continues to be elected to his position, and changes the rules to hold onto power. By following the laws and engaging in (heavily manipulated) democratic elections it provides an illusion of legitimacy and stability that doesn’t immediately scare away all business investment and industry, two things that the United States relies heavily upon as a service-based economy. A violent revolution would immediately collapse the economy, eliminating most support for Trump’s cause and radicalizing many against him. A policy-based revolution can occur before most people can even identify that its happening, and by the time its clear what’s happened it will be too late to do anything to stop it.
But a policy-based revolution actually requires the policies to be passed, and in the United States, policies don’t pass without financial support from wealthy businesses and their executives. The Republican party is made up of members who are all varying degrees of unhinged. Many seem to only follow trump because that’s the politically “safe” thing for them to do and will break the moment it appears “safe” to break from him (we saw the first Republicans try to do this in early 2021 following the insurrection on Jan 6th, but Trump was still too powerful so they were primaried and now presumably took jobs with large donors in the private sector). Mike Pence certified the election (a largely symbolic gesture that while legally required to conclude presidential election, there is no precedent nor written law dictating what happens if an election is not certified) against trump’s orders because actually toppling democracy was simply too far for him. Other republican politicians will find their own breaking points where their personal values and morals outweigh their careers and take an action against Trump’s wishes. And the entire opposition now knows without a shadow of a doubt that Trump and his cronies will attempt to keep him in power, so the opposition will do everything it can to stop it. The cards are still in Democracy’s favor, and they’re very much stacked against Trump and likely the Democrats as well (Once Trump passes there’s a good chance the Republican party will collapse and either a new party will grow out of its remains or the Democrats will swing right again collecting the Republican politicians still wishing to continue their careers and a new party will emerge from the Left. Historically, no political party has survived past its dictatorial strongman)
So, in short, yes Trump’s scary, but clearly I have more faith in our political institutions and politicians to shake off this obvious grasp for dictatorial power than you do.
You’re assuming they’re still going to be allowed to make decisions.
Everyone is expecting his government to still follow the established rules, but there’s very good reason to think those rules will be thrown out.
The USA is dead.
Realistically, the government will be forced to continue to follow the established precedent and constitution until the moment its not. When it will go off the rails and what to expect are entirely unknowable, but ultimately every institution relies upon and expects the United States federal government continuing to function and enforce the rule of law.
Most likely, if Trump is successful at becoming a dictator, it won’t be by breaking the rules but simply changing them. Lukashenko of Belarus was elected to their position, then changed the rules to hold onto power. Putin of Russia continues to be elected to his position and changes the rules to hold onto power. Erdoğan of Turkey continues to be elected to his position, and changes the rules to hold onto power. By following the laws and engaging in (heavily manipulated) democratic elections it provides an illusion of legitimacy and stability that doesn’t immediately scare away all business investment and industry, two things that the United States relies heavily upon as a service-based economy. A violent revolution would immediately collapse the economy, eliminating most support for Trump’s cause and radicalizing many against him. A policy-based revolution can occur before most people can even identify that its happening, and by the time its clear what’s happened it will be too late to do anything to stop it.
But a policy-based revolution actually requires the policies to be passed, and in the United States, policies don’t pass without financial support from wealthy businesses and their executives. The Republican party is made up of members who are all varying degrees of unhinged. Many seem to only follow trump because that’s the politically “safe” thing for them to do and will break the moment it appears “safe” to break from him (we saw the first Republicans try to do this in early 2021 following the insurrection on Jan 6th, but Trump was still too powerful so they were primaried and now presumably took jobs with large donors in the private sector). Mike Pence certified the election (a largely symbolic gesture that while legally required to conclude presidential election, there is no precedent nor written law dictating what happens if an election is not certified) against trump’s orders because actually toppling democracy was simply too far for him. Other republican politicians will find their own breaking points where their personal values and morals outweigh their careers and take an action against Trump’s wishes. And the entire opposition now knows without a shadow of a doubt that Trump and his cronies will attempt to keep him in power, so the opposition will do everything it can to stop it. The cards are still in Democracy’s favor, and they’re very much stacked against Trump and likely the Democrats as well (Once Trump passes there’s a good chance the Republican party will collapse and either a new party will grow out of its remains or the Democrats will swing right again collecting the Republican politicians still wishing to continue their careers and a new party will emerge from the Left. Historically, no political party has survived past its dictatorial strongman)
So, in short, yes Trump’s scary, but clearly I have more faith in our political institutions and politicians to shake off this obvious grasp for dictatorial power than you do.