Three weeks into Trump’s second term, we’re witnessing the systematic dismantling of government structures – a process that blatantly disregards the separation of powers and the checks and balances built into the US system. I suspect – and this is merely my assumption – that even if the courts rule against these actions, Trump, Musk, and their entire apparatus won’t be phased. They’ll simply move on.
Both of these men are fueled by a love for power and driven by enormous egos. That ego may very well lead to a fallout in the coming months – a hope I still hold. But for now they are riding high. Trump never misses an opportunity to flaunt his “great and unmatched” wisdom, even dreaming of seeing his face carved into Mount Rushmore for the U.S. 250th celebration in 2026. He has his loyal soldiers in place – with Russell Vought, a key architect of Project 2025, wielding significant influence over federal budgetary decisions and policy implementations in the White House – and controlling both the House and Senate, while Musk is living his utopian dream of an AI_led government. Musk is fully prepared for it (see the latest news on his xAI company here and here), alongside his billionaire tech allies. They are solely driven by the pursuit of wealth, showing no regard for the people and lacking any democratic mandate.
Trump, Musk & Co are untethererd, unleashed – on a wild, no-holds-barred ride where anything goes. The problem? This isn’t some fantasy. It’s bleeding into reality, with consequences far beyond the United States. The world is being reshaped at breakneck speed, and those who don’t align with this new order are left in the dust. And those who align with, yet remain outside this elite, are equally doomed.
It took Hitler and his regime only THREE months to install the Enabling Act of 1933 – a law that allowed him, the Chancellor, to bypass the system of checks and balances in the government, leading to the rise of Nazi Germany. Just like Hitler accused the Communists of being the perpetrators of the Reichstags fire and claimed the arson was part of a larger effort to overthrow the German government, Trump is accusing the Democrats for the deep state and all its failures, and media and selected ‘minority’ groups (transgender, gay, differently abled …) to be the Democrats’ henchmen.
Using this justification, Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to enact the Reichstag Fire Decree. The decree abolished most civil liberties, including the right to speak, assemble, protest, and due process. Using the decree, the Nazis declared a state of emergency and began a violent crackdown against their political enemies. As Hitler cleared the political arena of anyone willing to challenge him, he contended that the decree was insufficient and required sweeping policies that would safeguard his emerging dictatorship. Hitler submitted a proposal to the Reichstag that if passed would immediately grant all legislative powers to the cabinet, and by extension Hitler. This would in effect allow Hitler’s government to act without regard to the constitution.
In his first three weeks, Trump’s barrage of executive orders left no doubt: he is cracking down on his enemies and on those who didn’t vote for him. He does this with massive cruelty to all sorts of people, from immigrants to people who rely on government benefits. He’s systematically challenging the political system in a relentless bid to accumulate more presidential power – at the expense of constitutional principles. At the same time, he is crafting a vision of a white, “Christian” America that marginalizes minorities – and he is boldly seizing control of cultural institutions like the Kennedy Center, renowned for celebrating diversity. All of this, it’s a playbook that echoes the tactics of Hitler and other dictators. Many of whom Trump admires.
And it is only the beginning! There is more to come.
Now, add Musk’s visionary entrepreneurial outlook on AI – he isn’t hiding that he wants to transform the way government works, by running it as a giant series of AI programs. He said it. He is prepared for it with his massive investments building the world’s largest AI computing centers. And he has the ‘political’ role to do so. As head of DOGE – the Department of Government Efficiency – Musk is already ‘testing’ his power in a playoff with seniors at the Treasury Department.. A federal judge had to block DOGE temporarily from accessing the personal financial data of millions of Americans held by the department.
But what happens if court rulings are disregarded? Trump, a master at maneuvering around the law, stands firmly behind Musk, lending his full support to these bold moves. Trump is a consummate dealmaker – he gives only when he can take, a strategy he’s proven time and again. By handing Musk his DOGE playground, Trump fulfills his campaign promises to cut government spending, dismantle the deep state, and bring in un-elected outsiders. And what does he get in return? A fair share of Musk’s financial gains. Since Trump’s election, Musk’s wealth has surged by more than $120 billion – and it continues to grow daily. It’s as simple as that. Would this be illegal? Perhaps, but thanks to recent Supreme Court rulings, Trump enjoys immunity, even when it comes to charges as serious as bribery.
I feel these two men are a very toxic ‘pair’. A toxic mix of power, money, ruthlessness and willingness to push boundaries. Both feel entitled. They complement each other well – Trump could never do any of this on his own. He is not very smart and his ‘transactional’ behaviour, ego and greed are easy to understand. Musk saw his chance and invested heavily in Trump’s presidential bit – more than 270 million US Dollars. A language Trump understands and loves. And Musk won and is now fulfilling his entrepreneurial AI dreams on a LARGE scale. He has shown us what he can do as an entrepreneur with Tesla and Space X – and he won’t stop with DOGE.
Where will this lead?
We will witness it. It will play out in front of our eyes.
I am sure it will have an impact far beyond the United States – we are already seeing it. But this is a different story.