Today marks one hundred days of Donald Trump’s return to the presidency and the Republican Party’s return to power. Republicans—not just Donald Trump—now control all the elected branches of the federal government. Republicans in Congress control legislation. Republicans in the Senate control confirmations.

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Today marks one hundred days of Donald Trump’s return to the presidency and the Republican Party’s return to power. Republicans — not just Donald Trump — now control all the elected branches of the federal government. Republicans in Congress control legislation. Republicans in the Senate control confirmations.

While it is understandable to focus attention on Trump’s attacks on democracy and the rule of law, we must not lose sight of the fact that it is the Republican Congress enabling his authoritarianism. Ignoring their complicity in Trump’s actions is a mistake — both legally and strategically.

It is often said that we have three co-equal branches of government, each checking the others. But the reality is that our system is premised on the legislative branch being the strongest and the most important check on the president.

Congress alone can deny the president the authority to carry out destructive trade policies. It alone can refuse to appropriate the funds he needs to conduct illegal migrant removals. Most importantly, only Congress can impeach and remove a president who undermines the rule of law and defies the Constitution.

Pete Hegseth and Pam Bondi hold their positions because Senate Republicans lined up to support them. They continue to damage our country because Republicans in both houses are too cowardly to call for their removal.

Donald Trump is wreaking havoc on our economy because Speaker Johnson and John Thune refuse to exercise their most important constitutional power — the power of the purse. When prices rise and goods are scarce, it will be congressional Republicans who share the blame equally with Trump.

DOGE is breaking our federal government, perhaps beyond repair. Social Security and Medicare are at risk because Republicans refuse to exercise oversight over an agency seemingly accountable only to a narcissistic billionaire.

Too often over the last one hundred days, I have watched as people — rightly upset with Donald Trump — shrug off Congress’s complicity. Absolute loyalty to Trump is accepted as a fait accompli, just normal political reality.

Members of Congress swear an oath to support the Constitution and “faithfully discharge the duties of the office.” When the Speaker turns over his constitutional responsibilities to the president, he is not faithfully discharging his duties. Republican senators are not supporting the Constitution when they cede their specific constitutional obligation to exercise independent judgment in providing advice and consent on cabinet appointments.

With Congress sidelined, people have understandably turned their attention to the courts. We have come to expect federal judges to shoulder the entire burden of upholding the rule of law and our constitutional system in the face of Trump’s numerous illegal acts.

Yes, courts have an important — even vital — role to play in our democracy. But the founders envisioned the judiciary as the last line of defense, not the primary one. Those who lament the courts' limited power to enforce their orders against a defiant president fail to place the blame where it truly belongs.

If the failure of the courts to enforce lawful orders creates a constitutional crisis, so too does a Republican Congress that enables Trump’s disregard for the law. Republicans could stand by the judiciary and insist it has the resources to hold Trump accountable. Instead, they threaten impeachment and legislative retribution.

Frustrated by the reality that the Republican-controlled Congress will never stand up to Trump, many Democrats have turned inward, criticizing one another. But blaming Democrats for any portion of the disgraceful and illegal actions of a Republican-controlled government only helps people like Mike Johnson and John Thune escape responsibility for their complicity in Trump’s immoral and illegal acts.

That does not mean there is no role for us to play. To the contrary, those of us who cherish democracy must keep pressure on House and Senate Republicans. We cannot accept their spinelessness as inevitable but must insist they meet their constitutional obligations.

We must insist that Republican members of Congress do their jobs — and peacefully confront them when they do not. This means demanding that they respond to constituents’ calls for answers and town hall meetings.

Most importantly, we need to support Democratic candidates for the House and Senate so that Republicans feel the sting of electoral defeat in November 2026. If you can afford to, donate to a Democratic candidate of your choice. If not, consider volunteering for a state or local party committee. Any expression of support and solidarity can make a difference.

Those of us in the opposition movement must always remember: Donald Trump is an aspiring despot intent on destroying American democracy. The people with the power — and the constitutional obligation — to stop him are the Republicans in Congress. Their failure to act is a constitutional crisis and a stain on their legacy that will never be removed.

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