I had a nightmare last night. Shortly after noon, one year from now, Donald J. Trump “suspended” the Constitution. He announced it in his inauguration speech from the west front of the U.S. Capitol, the same location where, a little more than five years earlier, the angry mob Trump summoned to Washington sought to keep him in office after he lost the 2020 election. There was no need for violence this time. With help from RFK, Jr., No Labels, and millions of deluded or lazy voters, Trump won.
Trump’s inauguration speech struck many as a repeat of the gloom and doom he offered in 2017, but this time, there were no ex-presidents to listen to it. The outgoing president, Joe Biden, was already back in Delaware and George W. Bush was in Texas. Trump promised to arrest both “on day one” and “toss them in jail.” Would he?
On the afternoon of January 21, just as Rachel Maddow finished commenting on Trump’s speech, she offered “Breaking News” that federal agents had seized control of The New York Times. Maddow did not have time to finish her report. Moments later MSNBC went off the air. Televisions tuned into the channel now featured a fixed shot of the letters MAGA and a picture of Trump taking his oath of office.
My nightmare continued with my watching FOX News, one of the few news channels still operating. Trump announced the dissolution of the House and Senate in his speech. Democrats had won control of both. Amazingly, as Trump told viewers that, “The Congress has not represented the views of the people for decades,” some members of the now-dissolved Senate were seen clapping, among them Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Josh Hawley (R-MO). Only Hawley had reason to clap. Earlier in the day Trump had appointed him to serve as Attorney General in a social media post that also announced the “disbanding” of the FBI and the firing of all current Department of Justice employees.
Some Democrats immediately started marching towards the White House. Some of them carried signs, “Illegal President” and “Jail Him Now.” These protesters were turned away by horse-mounted park police. Some protesters were shot.
Trump also freed the “January 6 hostages,” some of whom marched in the inaugural parade, which included a model of the scaffold erected at the Capitol in January 2021. The model included a sign, “He should have been hung; now he’ll be jailed.” “He” referred to former Vice President Mike Pence.
Under an order from Trump, National Guard troops started shooting undocumented immigrants attempting to cross the southern border. He also issued an executive order banning all abortions, effective immediately, and mandating death for any doctor performing or assisting, “in any way,” in the procedure. Two reports of doctors being shot were broadcast on Fox by the end of the day.
My nightmare continued with Trump committing U.S. troops to aid Russia in its “pacification” of Ukraine. He also announced that “our friend, Vladimir Putin,” would come to Washington in February as his guest. He promised to hold “the well-known Nazi, Zelensky” accountable. Then Trump predicted that, “We will see him swinging from a noose soon.”
About a week after inauguration day, Trump announced that, via executive order, the U.S. Constitution has been “rescinded.” In its place, Trump promised “a new, efficient, MAGA charter that will Keep America Great for the next 1,000 years.”
I woke up in a sweat after imagining a classroom of children being taught that Trump was the founder of the United States. For a few seconds, I trembled in fear. Then I realized that it was all only a bad dream and that we still have a year before inauguration day 2025. It is not too late to save democracy.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, and other subjects.
Chris Gordon says
Mr. Dean, my nightmares aren’t as apocalyptic as yours. In my nightmares, Trump is elected but the legislature is controlled by Democrats so Trump, who has no idea how to work with a legislature, can’t pull off any of his crazy ideas. Even “his” Supreme Court abandons him. I understand your fears but remain hopeful that my nightmares are closer to reality. Or, better yet, Trump gets smacked down in the election. Try to keep a good thought. Thanks for your columns.
Bill Anderson says
Mr. Dean, I believe it to be quite unfortunate that while you seem sufficiently lucid to be able to recognize “deluded voters”, you fail to give recognition that perhaps you also are “deluded”. That is truly an unfortunate position to find oneself in. I do wish you well, sir.
John Dean says
Thank you for your comment. Maybe I am deluded. I hope so. I think Trump is a danger to our future as a constitutional democracy. I wish I were wrong.
Thank you for wishing me wrong. That is not all that common in the responses to my pieces.
Tomlin says
Very, very concerning! Thanks!
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece and for understanding why I wrote it.
neal carter says
Thanks for ruining my day…………
John Dean says
My apologies. For what it’s worth, that wasn’t my intention . . .
Beryl Smithb says
Scary scenario that gives me chills. To think that may be what he means when he says he will only be a dictator on day one. After that no one will be left to straighten out the mess. Let us hope that better minds will prevail.
John Dean says
I join you in your hope.
Patricia Heaps says
Dear God, seek help! Considering the daily nightmare that is this administration, your incessant whining and over-blown speculation seriously highlights the bubble you live in.
How ironic that Biden re-election campaign recently started a series of “off the record” trips for top political reporters and editors to “go over” campaign strategy and “help” the media to see where their coverage is lacking and what the talking points should be . But it’s going to be Trump that will take over the air-waves?
Your fantasy of Trump shooting illegal aliens certainly adds some shock value but doesn’t change the picture of what’s happening at the border. Three years of unfettered access and now Joe – in an election year – says he’s done all he can do?! Another irony? The “sanctuary” cities who were so compassionate, so open to “refugees” – what’s their story now? The undoing of all things Trump in regard to immigration was cutting off their nose to spite their own face. The spite, resentment, animosity – pick one – was just so overwhelming that absolutely nothing could be left to stand – and now look at what we have. Yet, the press secretary and others will stand at a podium and tell the lie that the border is “secure” – no wonder gaslighting has become a word of the year.
The threats to democracy are happening every day from assaults on the First and Second amendment to a thirst (lust?) for federal control of just about everything. They’re coming from inside, not Donald Trump.
Holly Geddes says
Thanks f talking sensibly.
Terrie lynn Martin says
I have had this dream also. It will happen and yes democracy died this day. But its followers wont care. I have said for 50 years as an educator, we are making a very bad bed, our future generations won’t have a clue how our government works, and they won’t know what they are losing. We all failed. I screamed, went to the White House, went to state capitals and got nowhere. I knew we were doomed, our lack of education came back to hurt us, but knowing what I know now. It was planned.