A History of Things To Come Revisited

Well, we’re at the 6 month mark of Trump’s second presidency and over 1.5 years since I wrote “A History of Things To Come” (a speculative glance into what the future might hold based on the political trends at that time). Less Nostradamus and more worst-case projection. Let’s see how it stacked up!

<States overturn initial election results causing Trump to win> Wasn’t necessary. Biden withdrew from the race 3 months prior to the election after stumbling badly in the debates. Harris was unable to rally enough support in the allotted time. Trump won 49.8% of the popular vote (vs. Harris 48.3%) and 312 electoral votes (vs. Harris 226)

<Criminal charges against Trump dropped & tribunals created to prosecute Trump’s enemies> Although convicted of 34 felonies in the hush money case, the Judge sentenced him to “unconditional discharge” (i.e., no fine, probation, or jail time). Classified documents and election interference cases were dropped when Trump was elected. The Fulton County election racketeering case has been put on indefinite hold. Although no tribunals have been formed to prosecute Trump’s enemies, over 100 individuals and institutions have been targeted with criminal investigations, attempts at deportation, firing, executive orders, and personal lawsuits.

<Army deployed at southern border with ICE receiving mandate & funding to execute mass deportations> Right on the nose. However, no mass killings at the border by the Army. Other countries definitely angered by deportations except those the US is paying to put them in prison.

<Assault on Freedom of the Press & creation of organization to control it> Aside from his decades long contempt for news organizations critical of him & repeatedly calling them “the enemy of the people,” he has taken to targeting their parent companies with multi-million dollar lawsuits, blocking business deals, and cutting funding to organizations like Voice of America, PBS, and NPR. With Musk having eliminated any monitoring of content on X, lies and conspiracy theories have flourished. However, no “Ministry of Truth” has been formed (unless you count his Truth Social) and no significant federal legislation passed to control the media.

<Ukraine taken by Russia, NATO replaced by new EU defensive treaty without US, excellent relations with Russia and China> Despite Trump’s public humiliation of Ukraine’s President and on again/off again military support, the war slogs on. Unwilling to provide direct military assistance to Ukraine, Trump has agreed to sell equipment to EU countries who in turn give it to Ukraine. Contrary to his long admiration for Putin, Trump publicly expresses frustration with him while being content to sale arms indirectly to Ukraine. His campaign promise to resolve the conflict in 24 hours was empty bluster. Although Macron called last year for a new EU defensive alliance, no formal treaty has been proposed. However, EU countries have concluded that the US is no longer a trustworthy defense partner and they have all significantly increased their own defense budgets in an attempt to fill in the gap. The war with Ukraine and Trump’s tariff war have actually worsened relations with both Russia and China.

<Trump brings peace to the Middle East including new temple for Israel> Trump’s carte blanche support for Israel including its military attacks on Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran have made peace further away than ever (despite the largest arms deal ever with Saudi Arabia). His recent attack on Iran has further aggravated the region. And his plan for the US to take over Gaza and relocate the Palestinians has received universal condemnation from every country except Israel.

<Repeal of Johnson Amendment allowing churches to endorse political candidates> While not repealed, the amendment is now toothless based on a district court ruling in Texas between religious broadcasters and the IRS. The religious patina evangelicals have bestowed upon Trump has only grown more pronounced.

So I’d say that 5 out of 7 have mostly hit the mark (Ukraine/NATO/Russia and peace in the Middle East being the exceptions). And we’re only 6 months into the second coming of Trump. And there have been many other unanticipated events and crises. As I have bemoaned too many times, we have completely worn out the adjective “unprecedented” (as well as “unpresidential,” I might add). But I fear that Trump is only getting started and the future holds disgraces and obscenities that defy imagination. As his power grows he will wax bolder and more blatant further shattering the limits of decency and ruthlessness.

The question is, how far are evangelicals willing to ride this train before they turn on him? And when they do, his wrath will know no bounds.