NDR Info: Has the political system in the USA become more presidential, more authoritarian, perhaps even more monarchical in the last two years, if one also takes into account how Trump's family is integrated into the government economically and also in diplomatic functions?
Manfred Berg: There's no doubt about that, and it's something that didn't just start with Trump. The so-called imperial presidency has been discussed for many decades. But under Trump, and this is certainly the opinion of the vast majority of experts on this topic, it has now reached its authoritarian phase, and in fact today's elections will have an impact on whether this path to an authoritarian presidential regime can be stopped.
"Trump has spread fear among Republicans"
NDR Info: With Republican majorities in both chambers, Congress has made itself a little smaller and has let the president take charge, economically and militarily. How did the president do this?
Manfred Berg: He has been threatening Republican representatives for a long time that he will campaign against all dissidents in the primaries. And we have seen Trump's critics in the party, such as Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who took part in the committee investigating January 6, 2021 (the storming of the US Congress, editor's note), being pushed out of the party.
I would put it very briefly: Donald Trump spread fear among Republicans, representatives and senators because he had the base and the electorate behind him with a large majority. And this trend may be reversed today.
"The president still has the veto"
NDR Info: And can the shift in the balance of power be corrected again or can he keep Congress in check with vetoes and presidential decrees?
Manfred Berg: We have to be very careful. Even if the Democrats win both houses, they will have the opportunity to set up investigative committees. They may even be able to initiate a third impeachment; they may block presidential nominations.
But the president still has the veto, and a two-thirds majority to override the veto is nowhere in sight. In terms of foreign policy, he continues to have extensive powers as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He will definitely fill it out then.
And he will do, I firmly believe, what he does best - he will further drive polarization and confrontation. He is known for his vindictiveness. I think we won't see what would normally happen after the president's party loses in the midterm elections: Trump won't allow himself to be reduced to the role of the "lame duck." It will definitely keep us all on tenterhooks for the next two years.
The idea of the “elected dictator”
NDR Info: Trump also repeatedly interferes in the affairs of the federal government, has used the ICE immigration police, and has also used the National Guard politically against the will of states and cities. Is the federal state also getting out of balance here?
Manfred Berg: Yes, definitely. Donald Trump has interpreted the already very extensive presidential powers in such a way that he basically says that the US President is an elected dictator, and he has tried again and again to enforce that. In the first year of his term in office, we experienced a veritable stress test for American democracy and the so-called checks and balances.
After all, in 2026 there were signs that the Supreme Court, among others, was setting limits. Yesterday he made a ruling in a case with which Trump wanted to prevent certain ballot papers from even being counted in California. These attempts at presidential rule in the sense of authoritarian government are something that Trump has tried and will continue to try in the next two years. But if the elections turn out the way the pollsters predict, it will be harder for him.
But we shouldn't think that Trump will leave the White House with a quiet farewell. He will continue to be president for the next few years. We as Germans also have to adapt to this.
“Tendency towards authoritarian government”
NDR Info: Judges oppose this, including the Supreme Court, although it is conservative. The central bank also defends itself against paternalism. But high-ranking military officials have also been sidelined, and universities and the media are under constant attack. As of today, before this election, is the USA still an intact democracy?
Manfred Berg: Many people have a different opinion. There are so-called democracy indices that measure the quality of a democracy, and the USA has been downgraded again and again for seven or eight years. Many people talk about a defective democracy or a so-called electoral democracy in which elections are still taking place, but tendencies towards authoritarian rule are already visible.
Personally, I believe that the direction in which American democracy will develop will be decided today and in the next presidential election. It will be crucial for the United States to regain democratic normality, and this includes, first and foremost, recognizing free and fair elections.
That's perhaps one of the things Trump is trying to do most: to undermine trust in elections. He succeeded to a large extent in this. A democracy in which the loser of an election no longer recognizes the result is in jeopardy.
The interview was conducted by Markus Schubert, NDR Info. The interview was slightly adapted for the written presentation.
