TRUMP takes America’s ‘imperial presidency’ to a new level

Monday, December 22, 2025 -Donald Trump’s return to power has pushed the modern presidency into sharper relief, with executive authority expanding faster and more openly than at any point in recent memory. 

From sweeping use of executive orders to aggressive control over federal agencies, the White House is acting with minimal deference to Congress, framing speed and dominance as necessities in a polarized political environment. Supporters argue this approach delivers results where gridlock has failed; critics warn it concentrates power in ways the system was never designed to absorb.

What makes this moment distinct is not just the volume of unilateral action, but its scope. Policy decisions affecting immigration enforcement, trade, national security, and the civil service are being centralized under the executive branch, often bypassing legislative negotiation altogether. 

Courts are increasingly asked to intervene, but legal challenges move slower than executive action, allowing policies to take effect long before they are reviewed. The result is a presidency that acts first and defends later.

The stakes are immediate and structural. An empowered presidency can move fast in moments of crisis, but it also resets expectations for future leaders—regardless of party. 

As Congress struggles to reassert relevance and institutions strain under political pressure, the question is no longer whether the presidency has grown more powerful, but whether any effective limits remain. How this balance is resolved will shape American governance long after the current administration.