Trump signed a mini-armada of executive orders this week, each one a fresh power grab dressed up as policy, but courts and critics are already ready to pounce.
What Pounced Out This Week
- Tariff Exemptions for “Aligned” Countries – On September 6, Trump granted zero-duties to trading partners who toe his line on industrial exports like nickel, gold, and chemicals. The perks take effect September 8.
- Trade Deal with Japan – On September 4, an EO slapped a 15% baseline tariff on most Japanese imports—autos, aerospace products, and even pharmaceuticals. A makeover of trade relations, Trump-style.
- Wrongful Detention Sponsors List – September 5, Trump birthed a new designation—“state sponsors of wrongful detention”—to slap sanctions, visa bans, and warnings on countries that hold Americans hostage.
- War Department Makeover – Also on September 5, Trump tried to rename the Department of Defense to the “Department of War” and rebrand the Secretary as “Secretary of War.” Mostly symbolic, but a heck of a message. It will cost tax payers a Billion Dollars for the rebrand.
- Tariff & Trade Security Tweaks – On September 5, an EO overhauled how reciprocal tariffs are handled and set up new trade-security deal protocols—more rules to flex executive muscle.
Why These Orders Are a Big, Dangerous Deal
- Off with the Checks and Balances – Renaming the DoD as the “War Department” isn’t just cosmetic; it’s autocratic theater. Congress said “only you can’t,” but Trump said, “Watch me.”
- Trade as a Weapon – Exempting tariffs for “aligned” nations and slapping 15% on Japan is trade policy turned into geopolitical blackmail.
- Countries That Detain Kittens—Too Bad – Creating a list of countries that can be punished for wrongful detention sounds tough—but real progress on releasing Americans takes more than naming and shaming.
- Cumulative Power Grab – Military rebranding, trade rewrites, sanctions threats. It’s not governance—it’s authoritarian cosplay.
Resistance Kitty’s Take
Trump’s war on norms is on full display: transitioning from policy to pure powerplay. We’re not just watching tariffs and legal jargon—this is checks, balances, and democracy being toyed with.
Let’s sharpen our claws: call out the stunt, spotlight the inconsistencies, track every court challenge. These orders aren’t just laws—they’re red flags.
