In America’s political structure today, there are numerous instances that reveal the applicability of Weber’s theory of bureaucracy. The Trump presidency is one that was characterized by authoritarian leadership in every arm of government. According to Goldmacher, Trump has continually applied his electoral power to cripple the legislative and executive arms of government.
One of the requirements for leaders is adhering to the laws governing their operations, including electoral laws. Goldmacher reports that contrary to U.S. law, Trump has refused to declare his candidacy for the 2024 elections while using his office to illegally use campaign funds.
As the former U.S. president, Trump has access to government resources, which he has inappropriately used to advance his 2024 presidential bid. Evidently, Trump knows what he is required to do but refuses to comply. This can be viewed as an extension of bureaucratic governance that revolves around a president’s disregard for federal laws.
According to Weber’s theory, leaders distort their roles to advance their personal agenda at the expense of the citizens, which is clearly shown in Trump’s case. During Trump’s leadership, critics were subjected to terror and numerous threats.
In response, many people kept silent and have been doing so even as Trump continues to misappropriate public funds as a former president. According to the current law, Trump would be subjected to restrictions after declaring his candidacy, an aspect he seems to be avoiding. Notably, any former president who wanted to use government funds to advance their political agenda would act similarly.
Connecting this to Weber’s theory, Trump’s misuse of power arises from a bureaucratic system that allows leaders to use their positions to disregard the law and render the arms of government powerless against such advances.