President Donald Trump holds a campaign-style rally on the National Mall that overshadows the bipartisan commission for the 250th anniversary.Since returning to office in January 2025, Donald Trump has centralized power by installing loyalists, naming his personal lawyer as attorney general, directing the Department of Justice against critics and deploying Marines in US cities.He has sued news organizations, filed a $10B suit against the
Internal Revenue Service over leaked returns, profited from cryptocurrencies and a televised Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House; critics including Governor
Gavin Newsom warn these moves erode democratic checks while the
Supreme Court often narrows accountability.