Current Controversies in the Trump Administration (2025)

🏡 Rule of Law & Judicial Independence

• Defiance of court orders in deportation cases, such as Kilmar Ábrego García's. [The Guardian]
• Trump's proposal to deport U.S. citizens convicted of violent crimes sparks constitutional concerns. [TIME]
• Use of the Alien Enemies Act to bypass standard legal deportation processes. [Houston Chronicle]

📉 Economy & Trade

• Disruptive tariff policies affecting agriculture and technology sectors. [PYMNTS]
• Trade tensions with China causing retaliatory actions and economic uncertainty. [The Guardian]

🧑‍🏫 Education & Academic Freedom

• Over $2 billion in federal funding frozen for Harvard over policy disputes. [Reuters]
• Threats to international student enrollment based on value assessments. [Reuters]
• Crackdown on pro-Palestinian student protests. [AP News]

🗣️ Freedom of Speech & Civil Liberties

• "Project Esther" criticized for targeting Palestinian activists. [Vox]
• Federal pressure on universities perceived as academic censorship. [The New Yorker]

🧑‍⚖️ Human Rights & Immigration

• Deportation of political activists like Mahmoud Khalil without due process. [The Guardian]
• Visa revocations and deportation threats for international students. [The Guardian]

🇺🇸 Democratic Norms & Governance

• Warnings from scholars about democratic backsliding. [Wikipedia]
• Concerns about Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and fascist comparisons. [Wikipedia]

🎭 Cultural & Historical Institutions

• NEH defunding threatens plans for America’s 250th anniversary and related cultural programs. [AP News]