Donald Trump, the first president to be convicted of a felony, has been seen as accelerating the erosion of democracy and global stability. His governing philosophy, rooted in corruption, has exposed American institutions' fragility. The administration's tariff regime, marketed as "economic patriotism," has been one of the largest tax burdens on consumers and businesses in modern history. The Justice Department has become a prosecutorial force focused on enacting Trump's vengeance, including the protection of a pedophilia ring leader and the use of the full force of the American justice system to cover his involvement with those involved in a widespread pedophilia scandal. Meanwhile, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol have been used as a private paramilitary force to invade cities and torment critics. The damage to international relations is potentially longer lasting, with allies emboldened by rhetoric that prioritizes personal profit over shared democratic values. The Supreme Court has struggled to assert its own allegiance to the executive power and has been slow to act.