President Donald Trump’s consolidation of power and targeting of his political opponents bring back unnerving memories for those who have watched elected leaders undermine democracies elsewhere in the world. Since he returned to office in January, Trump has been remaking the federal government into an instrument of his personal will. Those familiar with other countries where that has happened, including Hungary and Turkey, say there is one striking difference: Trump appears to be moving more rapidly, and more overtly, than others did. Trump has both scoffed and winked at the allegation that he’s an authoritarian: "I’m not a dictator,” he told reporters last month.
