By Matt Underwood 
Donald Trump got away with everything. It’s a statement that echoes in the minds of many, a sentiment of disbelief and frustration. The attack on the US Capitol on January 6th, 2021, an unprecedented assault on American democracy instigated by the sitting president, seems to have been met with an almost laughable lack of consequences. Trump, far from facing the full weight of the law for his actions, was not only acquitted by the Senate, but was even rewarded with a second run for the presidency, a clear sign that the system is failing to hold those in power accountable.
The sheer audacity of it all is mind-boggling. The blatant disregard for the rule of law, the brazen attempts to overturn the will of the people, it all seems to be swept under the rug with a shrug and a “well, that’s just how it is.” We are left with a feeling of utter helplessness, watching as the very foundations of our democracy crumble before our eyes.
The fact that Trump’s supporters, many of whom seemingly hold a blind faith in his pronouncements, refuse to acknowledge the gravity of his actions is a disturbing sign. It’s as if they’ve been hypnotized, convinced that the truth is a lie and the lie is the truth. This is not a healthy state of affairs for any nation.
But the blame doesn’t lie solely with Trump’s supporters. The complicity of the Republican party, who have consistently shielded Trump from accountability, is equally concerning. The lack of will to act, the fear of losing their own power, has allowed Trump’s blatant disregard for the law to flourish. It’s almost as if they are willing to sacrifice the very fabric of our democracy for the sake of their own political ambitions.
And then there’s the role of the Democrats. Their reluctance to hold Trump accountable, their constant attempts to play nice and find common ground with a man who demonstrably has no interest in compromise or cooperation, has emboldened Trump and his supporters. It’s as if they have been playing a game of chess against a player who has no intention of playing by the rules, a player who has shown time and again that he will stop at nothing to win, even if it means destroying the board.
The results are frightening. The system is failing, our institutions are crumbling, and the very idea of justice seems to be slipping through our fingers. We are left with a sinking feeling that the “Teflon Don” will continue to get away with everything, his actions becoming the new norm, a dark reality where the powerful are above the law and the rest of us are left to pick up the pieces.