Supreme Court intervenes to block further Trump deportations | LBC analysis

A US constitutional expert has warned that the 'land of the free' is on the “verge of becoming an authoritarian regime”.

Scott Lucas, a professor of American politics at University College Dublin, told LBC’s Matt Frei the Trump Administration is attempting to “break US institutions”.

“The takeaway is that we are on the verge for the first time in my lifetime — and actually I think in US history — of an authoritarian regime,” Professor Lucas said.

“And by that I mean an executive branch that does not recognise the authority of the judiciary.”

With recent high-profile deportations of scores of migrants in defiance of court orders, Lucas said this places the US in the same category as other authoritarian regimes that “disappear” people without due process.

“If it had happened in Russia or in North Korea or in Syria or in Iran, we would come out and say that these are authoritarian systems that are committing human rights abuses,” Lucas said.

“Now you have a the administration says not only can migrants be sent to El Salvador, [but] Donald Trump says it's where US citizens can be sent to."

"That's how far we've gotten with an administration led by a convicted felon.”

In response, Matt Frei to note the “irony” of having a president of the American Republic using power akin to a King.

This prompted Lucas to say — in jest — “all hail King Donald”.

Listen to the full show on Global Player

#donaldtrump #uspolitics #authoritarianism #deportation #LBC

LBC is the home of live debate around news and current affairs in the UK.

Join in the conversation and listen at

Sign up to LBC’s weekly newsletter here