Paul Krugman: How Stone-Faced Generals, Wall Street Pushback, and Government Shutdown May Save America's Quickly Declining Democracy

©iStock/lineartestpilot

Paul Krugman says, "If America still had a fully functioning democracy, Donald Trump’s speech Tuesday (9/30/25) to the assembled generals would have ended his presidency. Trump treated the event like a political rally and was clearly taken aback by the refusal of the audience to applaud or laugh at his jokes. Delivering a nakedly partisan speech to a mandated assembly of military officers was a gross violation of the Hatch Act. The content – telling the officers to be ready to use force against U.S. citizens – was clearly an impeachable offense. In an earlier era, Trump’s incoherent ranting would have paved the way for his immediate removal from office under the 25th Amendment."

Read more from Krugman.