The Autocrat's Playbook: Trump - From Immigrants to Iran

A documented record of who Donald Trump has attacked, in what order, and what it means

Verblendung (German): the state of willful blindness in which a person or a people becomes so captivated by a figure or ideology that they lose the capacity to see what is plainly in front of them. Not mere ignorance. Not deception imposed from outside. The kind of blindness you choose, and then forget you chose.

There is a question worth asking plainly: when you line up everyone Donald Trump has attacked since his first term in office, what do you see? Not what his supporters say you see, and not what his critics fear you see. Just the list, in order, with the facts.

What you see is a pattern. And patterns, unlike individual events, tell you something true about intent.

First Term (POTUS 45, 2017 to 2021): Establishing the Template

The first term was about identifying who could be attacked without serious political cost. Trump started with groups that lacked political power, were easy to demonize, and whose suffering would be invisible to his base.

Muslims came first, via travel bans targeting majority-Muslim nations. Then asylum seekers and migrants, through the family separation policy, zero tolerance prosecutions, and children held in detention facilities that a federal court later described as barbaric. Then Mexico, threatened with tariffs and accused of sending rapists and criminals. Then NATO allies, threatened with abandonment unless they paid more. Then Iran, from which Trump unilaterally withdrew the nuclear deal in 2018 before ordering the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani in 2020. Then China, via a trade war. Then the press itself, declared the enemy of the people.

The template was simple: pick a target, remove their legal protections, and see what happens. Nothing serious happened. So he came back.

Year One of POTUS 47: The Targets Expand Inward

Undocumented Immigrants

On his first day back in office, January 20, 2025, Trump signed executive orders expanding expedited removal nationwide, suspending refugee resettlement, and instructing agencies to detain people to the fullest extent possible. ICE was given permission to raid schools, hospitals, and places of worship. Agents in unmarked vehicles, wearing plainclothes and face coverings, began conducting door-to-door enforcement in immigrant neighborhoods based on what internal documents described as apparent race.

Legal Immigrants and Asylum Seekers

The administration then retroactively made over a million people illegal, including those who had used official government programs like CBP One appointments and Temporary Protected Status. People who had done everything the right way were reclassified as undocumented overnight. In May 2025, with Supreme Court permission, the administration revoked the protected status of 350,000 Venezuelan immigrants in what advocates described as the largest single action stripping any group of non-citizens of immigration status in modern U.S. history.

International Students and Foreign Nationals with Political Views

The administration revoked the visas of hundreds, possibly thousands, of international students across dozens of states. Many were arrested, detained, and deported or threatened with deportation not for any crime but because of their political speech, particularly support for Palestinian rights. The First Amendment was treated as a privilege that expired at the border.

U.S. Citizens

This is where the pattern became impossible to dismiss as immigration enforcement. By October 2025, ProPublica had confirmed at least 170 American citizens detained by ICE. The detainees included elected officials, disabled adults, children receiving cancer treatment, Puerto Ricans, and Indigenous people. The deportation of U.S. citizens from the United States is illegal. It happened anyway.

The administration announced plans to strip citizenship from 100 to 200 naturalized Americans per month. The DOJ directed prosecutors to pursue denaturalization cases. An executive order attempted to revoke birthright citizenship from U.S.-born children of immigrants, a right enshrined in the Fourteenth Amendment.

Elected Officials and Protesters

Protesting near an ICE operation became grounds for arrest. Accompanying an immigrant to a scheduled court hearing and asking officers to produce a warrant became grounds for arrest. Asking the Secretary of Homeland Security a question became grounds for arrest. These things happened to members of Congress. The message to everyone less powerful was obvious.

The Foreign Wars: Seven Countries and Counting

While the domestic crackdown accelerated, the military campaign abroad expanded at a pace that broke all modern records. Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project documented 622 air and drone strikes across seven countries in 2025 alone.

Somalia (February 2025 onward)

The U.S. conducted more strikes in Somalia in 2025 than under the Bush, Obama, and Biden administrations combined. Both al-Shabaab and ISIS-Somalia remained intact and active by year's end, with al-Shabaab gaining ground and advancing toward the capital.

Yemen and the Houthis (March to May 2025)

Under Operation Rough Rider, Trump ordered more than 1,100 strikes on Houthi positions, spending over a billion dollars in a matter of weeks. Human Rights Watch documented a strike on the Ras Isa port in April that killed more than 80 civilians and called for a war crimes investigation. A ceasefire brokered by Oman ended the campaign in May. By July, the Houthis had resumed attacks on shipping.

Iraq (March 2025)

A U.S. strike in al-Anbar province killed Abdallah Malli Muslih al-Rifai, identified as a senior ISIS commander, in coordination with Iraqi and Kurdish authorities.

Syria (December 2025)

Following an ISIS attack in Palmyra that killed two U.S. soldiers and a translator, the U.S. struck 70 ISIS positions across Syria on December 19. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called it a declaration of vengeance.

Nigeria (December 25, 2025)

On Christmas Day, Trump ordered what he called powerful and deadly strikes on alleged ISIS affiliates in northwestern Nigeria's Sokoto State, framed explicitly as protecting Christians. Nigerian officials disputed the characterization. Terrorism experts questioned whether ISIS even operated in the targeted region. Hegseth marked the occasion with: Merry Christmas. More to come.

Latin America and the Caribbean: The Boat Strikes (September 2025 onward)

Beginning in September 2025, the U.S. carried out at least 45 strikes on vessels alleged to be drug trafficking boats in Latin American and Caribbean waters. Monitoring group Airwars documented 151 people killed. The United Nations rejected the legal basis for the strikes, calling them unlawful extrajudicial killings. The Trump administration described drug trafficking as a form of armed attack on the United States.

Venezuela (January 3, 2026)

U.S. Special Forces raided Caracas overnight and abducted President Nicolas Maduro in an operation called Operation Absolute Resolve. At least one U.S. missile struck an apartment building in the port city of Catia La Mar, killing an 80-year-old woman as she slept. Trump described the attack as successful and perfectly executed. Legal experts and lawmakers from both parties called the operation illegal under U.S. and international law. Trump invoked what he called the Donroe Doctrine, a rebranding of the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine, and declared that American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again.

Iran (June 2025 and February 2026)

In June 2025, the U.S. struck Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan during active diplomatic negotiations. In late February 2026, joint U.S.-Israeli strikes were launched in what Trump described as major combat operations aimed at regime change in Tehran. The Iranian Red Crescent documented at least 201 killed in the initial wave. Iran launched a counterattack on the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Trump has already threatened to strike again.

The Countries Threatened But Not Yet Struck

Greenland and Denmark were threatened with military annexation. Denmark's prime minister warned that a U.S. attack on a NATO ally would collapse the entire alliance. Mexico has been threatened repeatedly over cartel activity, with reports that drone strikes inside Mexican territory were seriously considered. Cuba and Colombia were targeted with threats after the Venezuela raid. The list is not shrinking.

The Conclusion the Record Demands

He is not fighting enemies. He is manufacturing them.

Every escalation follows the same logic: identify a target that a portion of the public will not defend, attack them, normalize that attack, then expand the definition of who qualifies as the enemy. Undocumented immigrants became legal immigrants became visa holders became naturalized citizens became U.S.-born citizens became elected officials became protesters became anyone who asked a question. Abroad, terrorist groups became sovereign nations became a NATO ally in Greenland.

The violence is the point, not the means. A leader genuinely focused on security, drug trafficking, or nuclear threats would use diplomacy, law enforcement, and coalition building. Instead, each solution maximizes spectacle, cruelty, and personal political benefit. Deporting children receiving cancer treatment. Bombing a sleeping 80-year-old woman. Striking Iran during active diplomatic negotiations. These are not policy failures. They are features.

He has successfully inverted the law. Following the law now gets you arrested. Breaking it is called strength.

The domestic and foreign violence are the same project: a unified assertion that the executive branch may use lethal force against anyone it designates an enemy, with no court, no Congress, and no international body having the authority to stop it.

The word autocrat is accurate. But what the documented record describes is what historians call the consolidation phase. The dismantling of courts, oversight, civil rights protections, press freedom, and citizenship itself. The use of military force against civilians at home and abroad. The imprisonment of political opponents. The targeting of allies. This is not where authoritarianism peaks. This is where it accelerates.

The fact that large portions of the American public oppose these actions is, in this framework, not a constraint. It is the next problem to be solved.

Consolidation does not stop on its own. It stops when institutions, allies, or the public make the cost of continuing higher than the benefit. That is where history currently sits.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Council on Foreign Relations, Vera Institute of Justice, American Immigration Council, ACLU, ProPublica, Airwars, Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, Wikipedia 

Cheers! Sláinte! Na zdravie!

Compiled with aid of  Claude AI 

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JZ Murdock is a retired Senior Technical Writer/IT administrator, and an active award-winning author/ filmmaker, documentarian, and writer based in Bremerton, Washington. 

He publishes commentary on the state of things at murdockinations.com and on his creative works over at Substack. He also posts on Slasher.com on the horror genre.

If this work means something to you, you can support it at Ko-fi. Tips are always welcome and go directly toward keeping independent documentary work possible.

How Many Must Die for SCOTUS to Change? Don’t Hold Your Breath

When it comes to the Supreme Court, there’s a morbid but necessary question hanging in the air these days: How many Americans—or even non-citizens—would have to die before the justices reconsider their extreme, right-wing rulings and the drift toward authoritarianism? Is there a threshold where conscience kicks in? Or are we living with a Court so insulated and ideological that no amount of tragedy can break through?

The Historical Answer: Not Many—And Not Enough

Let’s be brutally honest: the history of the Supreme Court is littered with decisions that resulted in suffering, disenfranchisement, and death. The Court has enabled slavery (Dred Scott), segregation (Plessy v. Ferguson), Japanese internment (Korematsu), and now, in the 21st century, expanded gun rights, stripped away abortion protections, kneecapped voting rights, and greenlit near-total presidential immunity.

Did mass suffering or death ever make them reverse course? Not once.

• After Dred Scott, it took a civil war and constitutional amendments—not judicial remorse—for change.

• Plessy wasn’t reversed until Brown v. Board—almost 60 years later.

• The internment ruling has never been formally overturned.

The Insulated Ideologue Problem

Why? Because the Supreme Court isn’t a moral weather vane. The justices aren’t politicians facing voters. Their lifetime appointments mean they’re shielded from public backlash, no matter how much blood is spilled.

• Gun violence? More mass shootings, but the Court doubles down on gun “rights.”

• Maternal deaths post-Roe? They call it a “states’ issue” and move on.

• Immigrants dying at the border? Not their concern.

• Pandemic deaths worsened by anti-public health rulings? Judicial detachment reigns.

Authoritarianism Isn’t an Accident—It’s the Plan

The most chilling part: today’s Court isn’t just “right-wing”—it’s enthusiastically paving the way for authoritarianism. With decisions that gut checks and balances, undermine voting rights, and grant sweeping power to the executive, they’re building the legal scaffolding for a system where suffering—however vast—is simply not their problem.

So, What Would It Take?

Frankly, nothing short of new appointments will change the Court’s direction. Not tragedy. Not mass death. Not a destroyed democracy.

• There is no “body count” threshold that will suddenly trigger a judicial awakening.

• History shows the Court moves only when the country’s politics change—and new justices are seated.

The Takeaway

If you’re waiting for this Supreme Court to look up from their ideological manifestos and say, “Wow, maybe we’ve gone too far,” you’ll be waiting a long time—and at great cost. The bodies will pile up. The suffering will continue. And the Court will just keep issuing opinions, undisturbed.

Change will only come through the ballot box and the long, grinding work of replacing those who put us here—not from any sudden rush of judicial conscience.

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Bottom line:

The Supreme Court today is unmoved by casualties—its motivations are power and, all too often, politics. Don’t expect conscience from a Court built to serve ideology instead of humanity. You have to sympathize with the justices who aren’t on the conservative side, forced to witness the decline of their once-prestigious institution day after day. 

Still, I believe America’s better angels will ultimately prevail. This current cohort of justices will pass, leaving behind only their dark history and a legacy of bad decisions—decisions destined to be overturned, and hopefully sooner rather than later.

Compiled with aid of ChatGPT

The War on Fair Taxes: How the Wealthy Rig the System at the Expense of Our Citizens

​As of March 2025, with Donald Trump serving as the 47th President of the United States, his administration has implemented policies that significantly impacted taxation and damaged our government and our most necessary social programs like social security, a: U.S. Federal Safety Net for Retirement, Disability, and Survivor Benefits.

Or skip all this for another more sane direction...Timothy Snyder @TimothyDSnyder - "The Imperialism Has no Clothes: JD Vance in Greenland" His latest essay

One more...

‘Never been done’: Why Republicans might approve a budget whose numbers don’t match up

​Tax Policies:

• Extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts: The administration has prioritized extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) provisions from 2017. This extension is projected to decrease federal tax revenue by approximately $4.5 trillion from 2025 through 2034. While proponents argue this could lead to a 1.1% increase in long-run GDP, critics highlight concerns about escalating deficits and the disproportionate benefits accruing to the wealthiest Americans. ​Tax Foundation

• Corporate Tax Rate Reduction: Proposals have been made to further reduce the corporate tax rate from the current 21% to potentially 20% or even 15%, aiming to stimulate economic growth. However, such reductions may exacerbate income inequality and increase the federal deficit. ​Doeren Mayhew

Impact on Social Programs:

• Budget Cuts to Social Safety Nets: The administration's budget proposals have included significant cuts to programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). These cuts are intended to offset revenue losses from tax reductions but have raised concerns about increased hardship for low-income individuals and families. ​The New Yorker

• Social Security and Medicare: While President Trump has pledged to protect Social Security and Medicare, budgetary pressures from reduced tax revenues have led to discussions about potential reforms or cuts to these programs. Critics argue that the administration's involvement with initiatives like Project 2025, which aims at federal government reform, contradicts promises to safeguard these entitlements. ​The New Yorker

Economic Implications:

• Deficit and Debt Concerns: The combination of tax cuts and increased spending has contributed to a significant rise in the federal deficit, which has increased by 248% since the implementation of the 2017 tax cuts. This trajectory raises concerns about the sustainability of fiscal policies and potential long-term economic consequences. ​Axios

• Income Inequality: Analyses indicate that the benefits of the tax cuts have disproportionately favored the wealthiest individuals and corporations, potentially exacerbating income and wealth disparities in the United States. ​

President Trump's policies as of 2025 reflect a continuation and expansion of earlier tax reforms, emphasizing reductions that primarily benefit higher-income groups and corporations. These policies have significant implications for federal revenue, social programs, and economic inequality, prompting ongoing debate about their long-term impact on American society.

The toxic Christian right?

The Christian nationalist right has played a significant role in supporting Trump and shaping his policies, particularly those related to taxation, social programs, and government priorities. Their influence is rooted in a broader ideological goal of reshaping the U.S. government to align with their vision of a Christian-based nation.

How the Christian Nationalist Right Supports Trump’s Economic Agenda

1. Belief in Limited Government & Free Market Capitalism

   • Many Christian nationalists align with libertarian and conservative economic principles, advocating for lower taxes and deregulation.

   • They support Trump’s tax cuts and reductions in social welfare, believing government assistance should be replaced by church-based charity and private sector solutions.

2. Tying Capitalism to Christian Morality

   • Christian nationalist leaders often argue that wealth is a sign of divine blessing and that government redistribution (e.g., welfare, progressive taxation) is anti-Christian.

   • This belief justifies cutting social programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance, while keeping tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy.

3. Backing Project 2025 & Government Restructuring

   • The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a blueprint for a second Trump term, is heavily influenced by Christian nationalist ideology.

   • It includes gutting federal agencies, reducing the administrative state, and cutting safety nets, all while increasing executive power.

   • Many of its architects, like Russ Vought and Stephen Miller, are Christian nationalists who advocate for a government centered on their interpretation of Christian values.

4. Culture War as a Distraction from Economic Policy

   • While pushing tax cuts for the rich and budget cuts for social programs, Christian nationalist leaders focus public attention on issues like abortion bans, LGBTQ+ rights, and "anti-woke" policies.

   • This strategy diverts working-class and middle-class conservatives from noticing policies that economically harm them.

5. Strong Ties to Megachurches & Prosperity Gospel

   • Many evangelical megachurch pastors, such as Paula White and Franklin Graham, support Trump’s economic policies because they align with prosperity gospel teachings—the idea that wealth and success are signs of God's favor.

   • They push their followers to support Trump, portraying government assistance as a hindrance to self-reliance and faith-based solutions.

The Bigger Picture: Reshaping America

Christian nationalists view Trump as a vehicle to reshape the U.S. government into one that favors Christian dominance, enforces conservative social policies, and limits federal intervention in economic inequality. Their support helps justify tax cuts for the rich, reduced social programs, and deregulation, under the guise of religious and moral principles.

Doesn't it really come down to political priorities, power dynamics, and how narratives are shaped in public discourse?

1. Corporate Influence & Lobbying – Wealthy individuals and corporations spend vast amounts of money lobbying politicians and funding campaigns to ensure tax policies favor them. They have a direct hand in shaping laws that keep their tax rates low while cutting public benefits.

2. Trickle-Down Economics Myth – Since the Reagan era, there's been a persistent belief that lowering taxes on corporations and the wealthy leads to economic growth that benefits everyone. Despite repeated failures, this idea keeps being pushed to justify tax cuts for the rich and austerity for the rest.

3. Deficit Scaremongering – When it comes to social programs like Social Security, Medicare, or infrastructure, politicians (usually on the right) suddenly become fiscal hawks, warning that the government can’t afford them. Yet, they have no problem with tax cuts for the wealthy, which also increase deficits.

4. Media Framing – Corporate-owned media often downplays wealth inequality and shifts blame for economic problems onto the poor, immigrants, or government inefficiency—rather than on tax loopholes and corporate welfare.

5. Historical Context – During the mid-20th century, when tax rates on the wealthy were much higher (up to 90% under Eisenhower), the U.S. experienced economic stability, a thriving middle class, and major infrastructure projects. But since the neoliberal shift in the 1980s, tax cuts for the rich have contributed to skyrocketing inequality.

6. Manufactured Resentment – Some political forces work to pit middle-class and working-class Americans against each other, making them think that their tax dollars are being wasted on “undeserving” people rather than questioning why billionaires and corporations are dodging taxes.

Ultimately, the struggle isn’t just about taxation—it’s about power. The wealthy and corporations have the influence to shape policies that benefit them, while everyday people are told they need to sacrifice. But history shows that when the rich paid their fair share, society was much more stable

Right now, the imbalance in tax policy and spending priorities is a result of both political parties, though in different ways. Here’s a breakdown of who holds power and who enables this system:

1. Republican Party (GOP)

• The GOP has long pushed for tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, arguing that it spurs economic growth (the trickle-down economics argument).

• Under Trump (2017), Republicans passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which slashed corporate tax rates from 35% to 21%—a massive giveaway to the wealthy while ballooning the deficit.

• Republicans also frequently call for cutting Social Security, Medicare, and other social safety nets, claiming that the country can’t afford them—yet they never say the same about tax cuts for the rich or military spending.

• Project 2025 (pushed by the Heritage Foundation) outlines an extreme agenda that includes privatizing Social Security, gutting social programs, and expanding corporate power even further.

2. Democratic Party

• Democrats typically oppose direct cuts to Social Security and Medicare, but not all of them are willing to push for higher taxes on the wealthy.

• Under Biden, there have been proposals to raise taxes on billionaires and corporations, but corporate-friendly Democrats like Senator Joe Manchin (WV) and Senator Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) helped block major tax hikes.

• Many establishment Democrats take corporate donations and don’t push hard enough for reforms. They sometimes offer compromises rather than fighting aggressively for economic justice.

3. Corporate Lobbying & The Billionaire Class

• Big corporations (Amazon, Google, Exxon, etc.) and billionaires (Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Charles Koch, etc.) fund political campaigns and lobby against tax increases.

• The Supreme Court's Citizens United decision (2010) allowed unlimited corporate spending in elections, meaning politicians are often more accountable to their donors than voters.

• Think tanks like the Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute, and Americans for Prosperity (backed by the Koch network) push for corporate-friendly policies and dismantling social programs.

4. Media & Misinformation

• Right-wing media (Fox News, The Daily Wire, etc.) convinces working-class people that tax cuts for the rich are good and that social programs are bad.

• Corporate-owned mainstream media (CNN, MSNBC, etc.) rarely challenges the status quo because their owners benefit from the system.

So, Who is Allowing This?

• Republicans push for tax cuts and social program cuts directly.

• Corporate Democrats don’t fight hard enough to reverse it.

• Lobbyists and billionaires buy influence to keep tax policies in their favor.

• Media distracts people from the real issue.

What Can Be Done?

• Elect leaders who support taxing the wealthy and corporations fairly.

• Push for campaign finance reform (to reduce billionaire influence).

• Demand protecting and expanding Social Security, Medicare, and safety nets.

• Fight against corporate-controlled think tanks and misinformation.

The good news? When people push back (like with recent strikes, protests, and voter initiatives), change can happen. The real question is: will enough people wake up to it before more damage is done?

Getting back to this mire of Church and State and who are the problematic individuals skewing America towards foolish beliefs and actions. Here are some key Christian nationalist leaders who have influenced Trump’s policies, particularly in taxation, social programs, and government restructuring:

1. Russell Vought – Architect of Government Cuts (Project 2025)

• Former Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Trump

• Played a major role in cutting social programs like Medicaid, food stamps (SNAP), and housing assistance

• Now leads The Center for Renewing America, which pushes Christian nationalist policies, including shrinking the federal government and cutting safety nets

• Influence on Trump: Helped write Project 2025, which includes mass firings of civil servants and replacing them with Christian nationalist loyalists

2. Stephen Miller – Driving Cuts to Social Safety Nets

• Trump’s top policy advisor, known for shaping immigration and economic policies

• Pushed to reduce government spending on “entitlements” (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid) while expanding tax cuts for corporations

• Helped craft policies that redirected government resources toward Christian nationalist priorities, like religious freedom exemptions for businesses

3. Paula White – Megachurch Pastor & “Prosperity Gospel” Influence

• Trump’s spiritual advisor, led White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative

• Promotes Prosperity Gospel, which teaches that wealth is a sign of God’s favor, justifying tax cuts for the rich

• Preached that government aid weakens faith, aligning with Trump’s efforts to cut social welfare

• Her influence helped Trump push policies that benefit corporate donors and megachurches, like tax breaks for religious institutions

4. Ralph Drollinger – Influencing Republican Lawmakers

• Runs Capitol Ministries, a Christian nationalist Bible study attended by Trump officials like Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, and Betsy DeVos

• Advocates for eliminating social programs, arguing that the Bible opposes welfare

• Encourages Republican lawmakers to replace government safety nets with faith-based charity, helping justify Trump’s economic policies

5. Betsy DeVos – Pushing Religious Control Over Public Funding

• Trump’s Secretary of Education, known for trying to defund public education in favor of private Christian schools

• Part of Christian nationalist efforts to redirect government funds to religious institutions

• Worked to weaken worker protections and unions, aligning with Trump’s pro-corporate tax policies

6. Tony Perkins – Policy Influence Through the Family Research Council

• Leader of Family Research Council, a major Christian nationalist lobbying group

• Pushed for tax benefits for religious groups, aligning with Trump’s tax cuts

• Supports cutting social programs, arguing that government aid promotes “dependency” instead of Christian charity

7. The Heritage Foundation – Policy Arm of Christian Nationalism

• Think tank behind Project 2025, which outlines drastic changes to government under Trump

• Advocates for cutting taxes on the wealthy and eliminating social safety nets

• Supports Christian nationalist policies like mandatory Bible classes in schools and limiting LGBTQ+ rights

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How This All Connects to Trump’s Policies

• Tax Cuts for the Wealthy → Justified by Prosperity Gospel & free-market Christian ideology

• Cutting Social Programs → Based on belief that churches should provide charity, not government

• Deregulation & Corporate Favoritism → Backed by megachurches and religious groups benefiting from tax breaks

• Expanding Religious Influence in Government → Using tax policy and executive power to redirect public funds toward Christian institutions

Stephen Miller, however, is not a Christian nationalist in the religious sense, but works closely with them and advances their policies because they align with his broader authoritarian, nationalist agenda.

Stephen Miller’s Role in Christian Nationalist Policies

• Miller is a hardline far-right nationalist, known primarily for anti-immigration policies like the Muslim ban and family separations.

• He collaborates with Christian nationalist groups because their vision of a hierarchical, theocratic government aligns with his goal of consolidating power.

• He supports cutting social safety nets because a weaker government benefits authoritarian control—fewer government services mean more economic desperation, which can be manipulated for political gain.

• While not religious himself, he weaponizes religious rhetoric (e.g., “protecting Christian values”) to push policies that benefit the wealthy and corporate elites.

So, while Miller isn't a true Christian nationalist, he's one of their most effective enablers, helping implement their agenda through economic and governmental restructuring.

Stephen Miller has long been associated with far-right, white nationalist, and eugenics-adjacent beliefs, though he avoids openly embracing the term "eugenics." His policies and rhetoric reflect a worldview that prioritizes racial hierarchy, demographic control, and exclusionary nationalism, often aligning with historical eugenics movements.

Miller’s Eugenics-Adjacent Beliefs & Policies

1. Hardline Immigration Policies Rooted in Racial Purity Ideology

• Miller designed Trump’s immigration policies to heavily restrict non-white immigration, reflecting beliefs similar to early 20th-century eugenics laws.

• He was the architect of the Muslim ban, family separation policies, and the push to end birthright citizenship—all of which disproportionately targeted people of color.

• His policies echo the 1924 Immigration Act, which was influenced by eugenicists and sought to preserve the racial makeup of the U.S. by limiting immigration from non-Northern European countries.

2. Connections to White Nationalists & Eugenicists

• Leaked emails (2019) show Miller regularly cited and promoted white nationalist sources like VDARE and American Renaissance, which advocate for white racial superiority and demographic control.

• He pushed “great replacement” conspiracy theories, warning that immigration would “replace” white Americans—a claim often linked to eugenics-based fears of racial decline.

• Promoted The Camp of the Saints, a racist novel that portrays non-white immigrants as an invading force, mirroring eugenics-era fears of racial dilution.

3. Public Health & Eugenics Thinking

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, Miller’s faction opposed protections for marginalized communities, reinforcing a survival-of-the-fittest mentality.

• He supported policies that let the virus disproportionately kill disabled people, the elderly, and minorities, which aligns with past eugenicist views on “weeding out the weak.”

• Trump’s administration sabotaged asylum-seekers' medical screenings and proposed denying visas based on medical conditions, echoing past eugenics-based immigration policies.

4. Support for Christian Nationalist Demographic Goals

• While not religious himself, Miller works with Christian nationalists who advocate for higher birth rates among white Christians and restrictions on abortion and contraception.

• This aligns with historical eugenics movements that sought to increase white birthrates while limiting non-white reproduction.

• Groups like the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 promote these demographic goals, which Miller supports through policy implementation.

Conclusion: Miller’s Eugenics-Driven Policy Influence

Stephen Miller isn’t a scientist pushing for sterilization programs, but his actions, rhetoric, and policy decisions align with historical eugenicist and white nationalist goals. He frames his policies in terms of national security and economic interests, but their impact is clear: restricting non-white populations, promoting racial purity, and reinforcing social hierarchies.

Let's be clear.

Isn't this all Donald Trump's doing.

The statement "This is all Donald Trump's doing" isn't entirely a lie, but it oversimplifies a much more complex situation. While Trump certainly played a central role in shaping and implementing policies during his presidency, especially in areas like immigration, tax cuts, and deregulation, many of the actions and ideologies associated with his administration were influenced by a range of people, organizations, and historical trends.

Here’s why it’s not entirely accurate to say it’s "all Trump’s doing":

1. The Role of Advisers & Political Networks

• Stephen Miller, Russell Vought, Betsy DeVos, Mick Mulvaney, and other figures shaped Trump’s policies, often working behind the scenes or directly advising him on key issues.

• Miller, for instance, is a primary architect of Trump’s hardline immigration policies, but he also aligns with far-right and eugenics-adjacent ideologies, which Trump endorsed but did not fully craft himself.

• Think tanks and groups like the Heritage Foundation and Family Research Council helped craft policies that Trump endorsed, but the foundations of those ideas existed before he took office.

2. The Influence of GOP Ideology & Historical Context

• Trump did not create the political ideologies of tax cuts for the wealthy, deregulation, or anti-immigration stances. These ideas were long-standing Republican positions that Trump capitalized on.

• Christian nationalist groups existed and pushed these agendas before Trump, even in earlier Republican administrations. For example, the Heritage Foundation’s tax proposals had been in play for years.

3. Institutional Support

• Trump’s policies were supported and often pushed forward by Republican-controlled Congresses, especially early in his presidency. The tax cuts for corporations and cuts to social programs were pushed by Congress members aligned with Trump’s economic vision, but it wasn’t solely his agenda.

• Executive orders, which Trump issued frequently, were crafted with input from a wide range of advisers, but many stemmed from ideologies and agendas within the Republican establishment.

4. The Role of Political Activism

• Christian nationalist activists, evangelical groups, and far-right networks were pushing their vision of America as a Christian nation and restrictionist immigration policies long before Trump took office. Trump amplified their voices, but the foundational goals of these groups didn’t start with him.

Conclusion: Trump as the Figurehead, Not the Sole Author

While Trump was incredibly influential in pushing these agendas and gave a platform to these ideas, it would be misleading to say that everything—especially in terms of policy ideology—was entirely his doing. He was a vehicle for these forces rather than the sole originator.

Trump's current administration has faced rational and reasonable criticism for its rapid and amateurish policy implementations, leading to unintended consequences. For instance, the swift deportation of migrants resulted in logistical challenges, such as the return of Venezuelan women to Texas due to inadequate facilities in El Salvador. ​WSJ

Additionally, incidents like the "Chatgate" scandal, where confidential military plans were accidentally exposed, have raised concerns about the administration's competence in handling sensitive information. ​news

Furthermore, may observers, both domestic and international, have expressed alarm over actions perceived as steps toward authoritarianism, including undermining judicial independence and suppressing dissenting voices. ​The Guardian

In summary, while President Trump has secured a significant portion of public approval, his administration's policies and actions have sparked debate regarding their effectiveness and alignment with democratic principles.​

Finally, Donald Trump's childish beliefs in how the economy works have and continue to be damaging to the American economy and international relations. 

Tariffs were one of the most notable aspects of Donald Trump's economic policy during his presidency, and they remain a key topic in evaluating his impact on the U.S. economy and global trade. Here’s a breakdown of how tariffs were used and their effects:

1. The Trade War with China

• Trump’s Imposition of Tariffs on China: In 2018, Trump launched a trade war with China by imposing tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods. His goal was to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with China and address intellectual property theft and unfair trade practices.

• Retaliation: China retaliated with tariffs on U.S. goods, particularly agricultural products, which hurt American farmers. This caused significant disruption in global supply chains, especially in industries like technology, electronics, and steel.

• Phase One Deal: In January 2020, Trump signed a "Phase One" trade deal with China, where China agreed to buy more American goods. However, the tariffs largely remained in place.

2. Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum

• National Security Argument: Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, arguing that foreign-made metals threatened U.S. national security. The tariffs were set at 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum.

• Impact on Industry: While this benefited some domestic steel manufacturers, it led to higher prices for manufacturers that relied on foreign metal, including carmakers and electronics companies.

• Global Response: Several countries, including the EU, Canada, and Mexico, retaliated with tariffs on U.S. products. These tariffs led to trade tensions but also created uncertainty for industries in the U.S. reliant on foreign materials.

3. The Impact on American Consumers

• Increased Prices: The tariffs generally led to higher prices for goods like electronics, clothing, and machinery. This had a direct impact on American consumers, especially lower- and middle-class households, which bore the brunt of rising prices on everyday items.

• Economic Disruption: Although Trump's administration claimed the tariffs were needed to protect U.S. jobs, economists suggested that the costs outweighed the benefits. In particular, industries dependent on global supply chains were adversely affected by the uncertainty created by the tariffs.

4. Trump's Justification for Tariffs

• America First: Trump argued that the tariffs were a way to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. and shift away from the globalist trade agreements that he believed harmed American workers.

• Trade Balance: The tariffs were also meant to reduce the trade deficit, particularly with China, and force foreign governments to open their markets more to American products.

5. Long-Term Effects

• Global Relations: The tariffs contributed to a decline in U.S. relationships with several major trading partners. Countries like the EU and China felt that the tariffs were economically harmful and politically motivated, leading to retaliatory measures.

• Industry Shifts: While some U.S. industries benefited from reduced competition (such as steel producers), other industries struggled with the added cost of imports.

• Consumer Costs: Many economists argue that the tariffs did little to reduce trade deficits or protect jobs, and instead raised prices for American consumers.

6. Legacy and Ongoing Debate

• Trump's tariffs remain a point of debate. Some argue that they were a necessary tool for reshaping trade relationships and protecting U.S. industry, while others contend they damaged the U.S. economy and exacerbated the economic strain on working-class Americans.

Overall, Donald Trump's presidency, particularly his second term as POTUS47 starting in 2025, is marked by a continuation of his “America First” agenda, focusing on nationalism, economic protectionism, and law and order. While his policies and leadership have drawn strong support from his base, they have also sparked significant controversy, both domestically and internationally.

Key Aspects of Trump's Presidency:

1. Economic Policies: Trump's economic approach was centered around reducing the trade deficit, protecting American jobs, and boosting domestic manufacturing. This included implementing tariffs on imports, especially from China, and prioritizing policies that favored U.S. businesses. However, these actions led to trade wars and higher consumer prices, and while some sectors benefitted, others, like agriculture, suffered.

2. Immigration and Border Security: Trump's administration focused heavily on immigration reform, including building a border wall, implementing strict immigration laws, and taking a tough stance on undocumented migrants. These policies were divisive, with his supporters arguing they were necessary for national security, while critics viewed them as inhumane and discriminatory.

3. Foreign Policy and International Relations: Trump’s approach to foreign policy emphasized national sovereignty and America’s interests over multilateral agreements. His decisions to pull out of global pacts like the Paris Climate Agreement and the Iran Nuclear Deal, as well as his isolationist stance on international diplomacy, alienated many traditional U.S. allies. However, his policies did strengthen ties with right-wing and populist leaders.

4. Authoritarian Tendencies: Critics of Trump argue that his leadership style and certain actions, like undermining judicial independence and press freedoms, reflected a shift toward authoritarianism. His handling of protests, attacks on the media, and attempts to suppress dissent caused concern about the future of democratic norms in the U.S.

5. Public Support and Controversy: Trump's approval ratings, while higher among his base, have been polarized. His statements and actions on issues like race, gender, and immigration fueled division in the country. His supporters view him as a champion of American values and working-class interests, while detractors accuse him of exacerbating cultural divisions and undermining democratic institutions.

6. Social and Cultural Issues: Trump’s rhetoric on issues like LGBTQ rights, abortion, and reproductive freedoms often aligned with conservative Christian values, garnering support from the Christian nationalist right. His administration took steps to limit rights on these fronts, creating significant social tension.

7. The Role of the Christian Nationalist Right: Trump’s popularity among the Christian nationalist right can be attributed to his support for conservative social policies and his alignment with evangelical values. This group supported his stance on issues like abortion and religious freedom, making him a key figure in their political efforts.

8. Election and Second Term: Trump’s victory in the 2024 election (POTUS47) was highly contested, with his rhetoric and policies continuing to appeal to a significant portion of the electorate. However, his second term has been marked by continuing polarization, with some Americans questioning his fitness for office and the direction of his policies.

Summary:

Trump's presidency has been one of extreme contrasts and an ongoing nightmare for MOST American citizens and many others: minorities, immigrants, and even undocumented or illegal citizens. 

"A country is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable and disenfranchised citizens," often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi.

While Trump's policies were allegedly designed to revive American industry, secure borders, and prioritize U.S. interests, on the other hand, they have often and purposely led to economic disruptions, political instability, and divisions within the country. His leadership was shaped by populism and nationalism, with a strong base of support from his followers but harsh opposition from many others, especially in terms of his handling of social issues, global diplomacy, and domestic governance.

In conclusion, there is little confusion in that Donald Trump was quite obviously and objectively not only not the "best choice" for POTUS47, but the worst as a convicted felon, adjudicated sexual abuser and career criminal. His presidency represents a divisive and polarizing period in American history, with lasting impacts on both domestic policy and international relations that may well take decades to heal from, both domestically and with our international security concerns and relationships.

Finally...

Russia benefited from a more isolationist U.S. foreign policy, a weakened NATO, and a less aggressive stance under Trump, allowing the Kremlin to expand its influence on the global stage. On the other hand, Trump's actions created both domestic challenges for the U.S. and increased global uncertainty, ultimately making Russia the bigger benefactor in the long run.

Compiled with aid of ChatGPT