A new hour-long special by Fareed Zakaria, "The Imperial Presidency," airing Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CNN, will delve into how President Donald Trump has significantly broadened executive power. The program suggests that Trump's actions, from altering citizenship policies to directing foreign aid "without Congress weighing in," represent a culmination of a long-standing trend in American governance. Zakaria stated in a tweet, "Pres. Trump has expanded executive power to new extremes. With the stroke of a pen, he has declared major changes to US policy, from citizenship to foreign aid, without Congress weighing in."
The special will explore how the presidency has evolved beyond the limits envisioned by the Founders, becoming increasingly susceptible to abuse. The concept of an "Imperial Presidency" gained prominence with Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.'s 1973 book, which argued that the presidency had become uncontrollable. Historically, presidents like Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Richard Nixon have been cited for expanding presidential authority, particularly during times of crisis.
In his second term, President Trump has been noted for his assertive use of executive authority, including deploying troops domestically and unilaterally launching military actions. Experts point to the "unitary executive theory," which posits that the president has absolute control over the executive branch, as a theoretical underpinning for some of these actions. The Supreme Court's 2025 ruling in Trump v. United States, granting presidents absolute immunity for official acts, has further emboldened this expansive view of presidential power.
The special also highlights instances such as the 2026 military intervention in Venezuela, where U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro, drawing criticism for violating international law and the War Powers Act. Mohamad Bazzi, director of the Center for Near Eastern Studies, commented on Trump's "more dangerous version of the imperial presidency," citing his actions to undermine congressional authority and target political opponents. The program will feature insights from legal scholars and historians, including Noah Feldman and Charlie Savage, to examine whether the constitutional system can withstand these challenges.
