A confidential analysis for the German government, signed by Ambassador Andreas Michaelis on January 14, suggests that the incoming US administration of President Donald Trump may bring about a fundamental shift in the country’s political order.
According to the report, Trump’s agenda could lead to a “maximum concentration of power at the president’s expense, at the expense of Congress and the states.” The analysis notes that this would largely eliminate democratic principles and the system of checks and balances in the US. The legislative, executive, and media branches of government would be stripped of their independence and potentially misused, the report claims.
Large technology companies, known as Big Tech, could gain “co-regulatory powers.” The document also suggests that the criminal justice system would be used as a political tool, with the control of the Justice Department and the FBI being crucial in implementing Trump’s policies, including mass deportations, retaliatory measures, and securing his own legal immunity.
In conflicts with states that have traditionally held significant powers in the US, Trump could use emergency regulations to exert his authority. The possibility of a military deployment for law enforcement purposes is also mentioned.
When asked about the document, the German Foreign Office stated that it does not comment on internal papers, analyses, or diplomatic reports. Trump is set to take office on Monday, succeeding President Joe Biden, a Democrat. The German government, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, has generally maintained a low public profile in its criticism of Trump since his election.