Trump consolidates power with loyalists, facing little resistance in second term's first year

President Donald Trump has significantly expanded his use of executive power during the first year of his second term, meeting far less resistance from his staff, Cabinet, and Congress than he did during his first four years in office.

Analysts say the shift stems from a change in personnel. During Trump’s first term, senior advisors such as Chief of Staff John Kelly and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis frequently challenged or delayed his directives. By contrast, his current team—including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Vice President J.D. Vance—views their role as executors of the president’s vision.

As a result, Trump signed more executive orders in the past year than he did during his entire first term.

The president's recent actions include deploying the National Guard to cities in Democratic-led states and ordering the prosecution of political rivals. He also bypassed Congress to impose sweeping tariffs and authorize military operations in Iran and Venezuela.

While Trump maintains the support of his core base, his approval ratings have hit new lows. Recent polling shows he is struggling particularly with independent voters.

The fundamental shift in a second Trump term lies not in policy, but in the underlying architecture of power. By replacing a cabinet of experienced—and occasionally dissenting—officials with a team defined by absolute loyalty, the administration has effectively dismantled the internal checks and balances that once tempered executive action. This transformation enables the president to operate with minimal institutional friction, facilitating what analysts describe as a move toward "governance by impulse."

The consequences of this executive consolidation extend well beyond the Beltway. For international partners like Vietnam, a U.S. presidency unconstrained by traditional advisory protocols or legislative norms creates an era of profound unpredictability. The potential for the sudden imposition of tariffs via executive emergency powers threatens to disrupt global supply chains and destabilize export-reliant economies. Similarly, the precedent for unilateral military maneuvers suggests a volatile security landscape, raising questions about the durability of U.S. commitments in flashpoints such as the South China Sea. Foreign capitals must now navigate a Washington where policy is increasingly driven by individual prerogative rather than a consultative, consensus-based process.

For the Vietnamese-American community, a centralized focus on executive orders under a Trump presidency could bring swift and direct consequences, particularly regarding immigration. Without moderate advisors to act as a buffer, the administration could overhaul visa regulations, family reunification programs like F2B sponsorships, or asylum policies with a single signature. This creates a climate of profound instability for those currently navigating the application process or waiting for years to be reunited with loved ones. Beyond immigration, the economic backbone of the community—from the nail salon industry to local phở restaurants—faces significant risks from unpredictable trade policies. New tariffs could drive up operating costs and eat into the profit margins of small business owners in Little Saigons across the country, while also threatening the stability of remittances sent back home. Whether it involves H-1B high-tech workers, EB-5 investors, or those under TPS protection, the shift toward governance by executive fiat leaves many Vietnamese families facing an increasingly uncertain future.