Ross Douthat has no illusions about Trump. He knows the man’s foibles as well as we do. But he still holds out hope for the administration, partly because he thinks that a wrecked America could evolve into something more reactionary-friendly, and partly because he approves of Trump’s efforts to weaponize government against secular culture.
Douthat thinks Trump is blowing it with overreach. He has already lost the country. He relies on executive orders, which can be quickly rescinded by his successor, rather than legislation. His legacy, as a result, will be one of failure.
Is Douthat right? If you assume Trump plans to keep American liberal democracy in place, yes. But if the great man intends to use ICE and the military to destroy the system and make himself a true authoritarian, public opinion will be irrelevant. At least for awhile.