Imagine If It Were Trump: National Review’s Hypocrisy on Executive Overreach

National Review’s article titled "Imagine If It Were Trump" tries to rewrite history by lamenting executive orders that the Biden administration has issued, suggesting a double standard if Trump had done the same. But the real story is not about executive orders in general — it’s about the nature and intent behind those orders.

During his presidency, Donald Trump routinely abused executive power to dismantle government agencies, attack immigrants and civil rights, and undermine democratic norms. His executive orders were not mere policy tweaks; they were blunt instruments of authoritarian overreach. From banning travel from Muslim-majority countries to sidelining environmental protections and weaponizing ICE, Trump’s orders were designed to consolidate power and sow division.

National Review’s hand-wringing ignores this context. They want readers to believe executive orders are neutral tools, when in fact the Trump administration’s orders were part of a broader pattern of corruption, grift, and attacks on democracy. The right’s selective outrage reveals their true allegiance: not to the Constitution or democratic accountability, but to their partisan tribe.

We do not pretend executive orders are inherently bad. They can be used responsibly. But when wielded to bypass Congress and dismantle checks and balances, they become authoritarian weapons. The Trump administration’s legacy is a blueprint for how executive power can be abused to erode democratic institutions.

National Review’s piece is a distraction — a cynical attempt to shield Trump’s record from scrutiny by attacking Biden’s use of executive authority. We see through it. Accountability means calling out abuses of power wherever they occur, not excusing them when convenient. The question is not “Imagine if it were Trump?” but “Will we allow Trump’s authoritarian tactics to become the new normal?” We say no.