Irish Examiner view: Democrats are responding too slowly

The political opposition and the judicial system are finally getting to grips with the whirlwind of chaos sown by Trump and his allies

Elon Musk and Donald Trump. With the right wing of the party now delighting in the lawlessness being displayed by Trump and Musk, Democratic support is no longer a given. Picture: Justin Merriman/Bloomberg/Getty

As the Trump administration lays waste to swathes of the US federal government, opposition has been visibly and audibly lacking from Democratic Party grandees.

The past weekend saw some stirring within the Democrats as several senior party members threatened to back away from co-operating with Republicans on a government funding deal because of the actions of the US president — and his sidekick Elon Musk — to unilaterally downsize various government agencies and bodies. Democrats are beginning to find their voice and realise the power of their leverage as the Republicans struggle to craft a compromise that would continue government spending after March 14.