"Trump's Revenge: The Potential Realities of a Second Term"

Donald Trump's extreme rhetoric, filled with vows of vengeance and retribution, has become a mainstay of his 2024 campaign, with many of his pledges backed by a policy and personnel infrastructure designed to turn his words into reality if he wins another term. His threats to target political enemies and direct Justice Department investigations are supported by allies who view his second term as driven by a maximalist theory of a president’s authority. Despite facing criminal indictments, Trump's rhetoric is far from empty, and if he manages to win the presidential election, he and his allies will enter the White House more emboldened and politically powerful than any recent administration, with a more expansive view of presidential authority.