Let’s be clear: the potential for the next progressive president to use executive power—like the kind Donald Trump wielded—does not mean we should fear it. It means we should embrace it. The left has long dreamed of transformative change—universal healthcare, climate justice, student debt cancellation, and an end to mass incarceration.

But for decades, these goals have blocked by gridlock, political cynicism, and the sheer inertia of a system built to protect the status quo. So if the next progressive president uses the same tools Trump used—executive orders, agency directives, and the power to shape federal enforcement—we could finally achieve what the left has fought for.

Yes, there’s a risk. Yes, a progressive president could abuse power just like Trump has. But the consequences of inaction are far worse. The American people are suffering under a system that prioritizes profit over people, that allows the wealthy to avoid taxes while the working class struggles to afford rent and medicine. The current system is not neutral—it is a machine of inequality. And if we want to dismantle it, we need a president who can act decisively, not one who waits for Congress to pass a bill that will never come.

Think about it: Trump used his power to expand immigration enforcement, to target political enemies, and to justify the use of force. But he also used it to push policies that, while harmful, were consistent with a narrow vision of national security and order.A

The next progressive president, by contrast, could use the same tools to expand rights, protect the vulnerable, and build a more just society. Imagine a president who cancels student debt for millions, who uses the Department of Justice to prosecute corporate polluters, or who directs the IRS to audit the ultra-rich. These are not just policy wins—they are acts of justice.

Note: This article was written using AI tools, then edited and refined to reflect the views and opinions of the author.