Donald Trump’s influence fuels concerns about authoritarian sentiment in US democracy

A new study published in the American Journal of Political Science examined how support for authoritarian rule can spread through social contagion. Researchers observed over 1,300 Norwegian military recruits and found that soldiers adjusted their reported support for authoritarianism to match the attitudes of peers in their living quarters. The authors concluded that democratic societies may be vulnerable to rapid shifts in political norms when authoritarian views appear more widespread than previously thought.

At the same time, analysts have warned that a network of MAGA‑aligned influencers, podcasters and self‑appointed power brokers is creating a parallel power structure around the Trump presidency. Reports describe instances of alleged “pardon brokers” and insider tip‑sharing that allowed individuals to profit from predictions about presidential decisions, such as the selection of a 2024 running mate. Critics argue that this informal ecosystem threatens to disrupt the House GOP agenda and undermine traditional governance mechanisms.