U.S. democracy crumbles as Trump undermines checks and balances

The rule of law is eroding under Trump, and his unchecked presidential power is pulling the U.S. further away from its founding ideals

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Democracy is often defined as government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It’s the kind of country most of us want to live in. For decades, the United States stood as a shining example, offering political freedom and an open market economy that produced the greatest goods and services of any nation and delivered a standard of living envied around the world.

As Canada’s closest ally and largest trading partner, the health of U.S. democracy and its economy has profound implications for Canadians, from border security and trade agreements to global stability and the example it sets for governance.

Today, however, the U.S. appears to have drifted far from that democratic ideal. One must ask whether it still functions as government of and by the people. Electoral districts have been gerrymandered—manipulated to favour certain parties—into safe seats for nearly all incumbents. Meanwhile, an unexplainable electoral college system can override the popular vote in presidential elections, allowing a candidate to take office without majority support.

Democratic countries are grounded in the rule of law, with power distributed among three branches: executive, legislative and judicial. These were designed to check and balance one another, preventing the rise of autocracy. But that system is eroding at the federal level in the U.S. Today, the executive branch, embodied by the president, increasingly overrides the other two.

Congress has been sidelined by declarations of emergency powers, which were intended only for existential threats. U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the two per cent of fentanyl coming into the U.S. from Canada and some illegal migration constituted such an emergency, justifying his assumption of legislative powers such as imposing tariffs.

Meanwhile, a series of judicial appointments based on politics has eroded public confidence in impartial rulings. With these institutional checks weakened, U.S. policy has become whatever comes out of the president’s mouth. It is unpredictable and can change daily, often appearing to reflect the views of those who last spoke to him, typically individuals who supported his political or business interests.

One might possibly justify all this if it advanced Trump’s stated goals of overcoming rivals such as China and making America great again. However, both at home and abroad, the result has been greater instability and uncertainty. The CIA’s own World Factbook, which reflects an American perspective, reports that China has outpaced the U.S. in real output for over a decade. In 2023, China produced $31,230,000,000,000 while the U.S. produced $24,977,000,000,000.

On the domestic front, the latest data show the U.S. economy is in decline. This is not surprising. Business leaders and economists have long warned that uncertainty, tariffs and trade barriers would be harmful. Many hoped that these policies would be reversed once Americans began feeling the damage.

But these tremors don’t stop at the U.S. border. Canada’s economy is closely tied to the U.S., and escalating protectionism and market volatility hurt Canadian exporters, particularly in agriculture, manufacturing and energy.

Trump’s reaction to being told that the current situation is hurting American citizens was not what one would expect from the leader of a democratic country operating for the people. Instead of offering to make things better, he said that Americans have it too soft, implying that he sees it as a good thing if their standard of living falls.

The example he gave is telling. “A child does not need 30 dolls. She can have two and it does not matter if the dolls cost more.” This statement shows beyond a doubt that the president is not of the people. His image of American children fits those of the rich minority, not of the majority who will never have 30 dolls nor of the significant number who often go without breakfast and for whom a downturn could put their lunch at risk.

A government cannot claim to be for the people when it imposes policies that make citizens’ lives worse without any external necessity. Nor can it claim to represent them when its leadership is so clearly disconnected from their everyday reality.

As Canadians, we may take pride in our own democratic institutions, but we are not immune to the consequences when democracy falters just next door.

Dr. Roslyn Kunin is a respected Canadian economist known for her extensive work in economic forecasting, public policy, and labour market analysis. She has held various prominent roles, including serving as the regional director for the federal government’s Department of Employment and Immigration in British Columbia and Yukon and as an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Kunin is also recognized for her contributions to economic development, particularly in Western Canada.