A Flurry of Norm-Shattering Actions and Controversial Decisions

On his first full day back in the White House, President Trump reveled in his return to power and vowed to do what no president had ever done before. He declared, "We're going to do things that people will be shocked at."

Despite promising many of these actions on the campaign trail, Mr. Trump succeeded in shocking the nation. His actions were not so much shocking due to the ferocity of the policy shifts or ideological swings, but rather through norm-shattering, democracy-testing assertions of personal power. These assertions defied the courts, the Congress, and the ethical lines that constrained past presidents.

Some of Mr. Trump's most controversial actions included freeing the rioters who assaulted the Capitol in his name four years ago, stripping former advisors facing credible death threats of their security details, and allowing the Chinese-owned TikTok app to remain in use in the United States despite serious national security concerns. These actions raised concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and the rule of law.