United States faces democratic backsliding as president’s authority challenged

Retired history teacher Michael C. Connolly, writing from Portland, reflects on the United States’ 250th anniversary and warns that the nation’s democratic foundations are under strain. He argues that the current president has pursued personal power and wealth, displaying an authoritarian style that predates his second term. Connolly cites former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s 2018 book, which described the president as the first antidemocratic leader in U.S. history, and notes the president’s refusal to accept the 2020 election results and his encouragement of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack. Recent Supreme Court rulings, Connolly says, have further expanded presidential power and weakened accountability. He urges individual citizens to focus on upcoming elections in 2026 and 2028 to protect democratic traditions.