Fears that Donald Trump will govern as a dictator during his second term may be overstated—not because he wouldn’t try, but because he’s too impulsive and disorganized to control even his own party in Congress.
That’s the take from conservative analyst Ramesh Ponnuru, writing for The Washington Post, where he argued that Trump’s chaotic style of leadership limits his ability to impose his will... Continue reading here ▶
“Trump Has Political Talents, But…”
Ponnuru, a frequent Trump critic from the right, acknowledges that the president-elect has undeniable political skills but describes him as impulsive, easily influenced, and desperate for attention.
“Trump has indisputable political talents,” Ponnuru wrote. “But he remains impulsive, manipulable, and jealous of attention.”
This chaotic approach, Ponnuru argues, makes it unlikely that Trump could execute the systematic, authoritarian governance that Democrats fear. Instead, his lack of organization and understanding of how Congress works often undermines his own agenda.
The Continuing Resolution Fight
As an example of Trump’s erratic leadership, Ponnuru pointed to last week’s battle over the continuing resolution to fund the federal government. This episode, he argues, exposed Trump’s limitations and even provided Democrats with new ammunition against him.
In the fight, tech billionaire Elon Musk, a major Trump ally, derailed bipartisan negotiations to keep the government open. The chaos forced the House GOP to scramble for a compromise that ultimately didn’t include Trump’s demands.
The spectacle emboldened Democrats, who emerged from the debacle with a new talking point: Elon Musk—not Trump—is the one really calling the shots, dubbing him “President Musk.”
Ponnuru noted that Trump’s mishandling of the situation revealed his inability to lead effectively. For instance, Trump pushed Republicans to raise the debt ceiling unilaterally, an unrealistic demand that alienated even members of his own party. He also publicly criticized Speaker Johnson, further weakening GOP unity.
The Bigger Picture
Democrats spent much of the campaign warning that Trump’s second term would be an authoritarian nightmare, marked by attacks on immigrants, a billionaire-friendly economy, and threats to democracy. They argued that Trump and his allies would be more strategic this time around, having learned from their first term.
But Ponnuru suggested that Trump’s chaotic leadership style undercuts these fears. While Trump’s GOP may want to pursue these controversial policies, they lack the organizational skills and effective leadership to follow through.
“Trump still has little interest in figuring out how to build a legislative coalition,” Ponnuru wrote. “His impulsive demands and public criticisms only undermine his party’s ability to govern.”
What’s Next?
Despite the GOP’s dysfunction, Ponnuru warns that Democrats shouldn’t get too comfortable. While voters are unlikely to remember this government funding debacle by the 2026 midterms, Congress’s dysfunction under Trump could lead to future crises.
“Voters are unlikely to remember this episode by the midterm elections of November 2026, especially since Congress ultimately avoided a shutdown,” Ponnuru concluded. “What should concern them—and buoy Democrats—is that they seem very likely to produce sequels.”
