Bard College Berlin News
One year since the second Trump inauguration, Prof. Dr. Boris Vormann provides political insight on German television
In his interview with Deutsche Welle, Vormann notes that President Trump’s administration poses a significant challenge to American democracy, which is predicated on political power not being too concentrated. “All the things that have been built into and hardwired into the political system in the US he’s eroding,” he says, including legislating without Congress and concentrating executive power. Internationally, his broader foreign policy is described as destabilizing the post-1945 global order: “the world is splitting up into different spheres of influence and geopolitical powers.” Looking ahead, Vormann notes that while historical trends suggest a “pendulum swing back and the opposing party” in the upcoming midterm elections, it remains too early to make definitive predictions.
On Tagesschau Boris Vormann argues that Trump is “leading American democracy to the abyss,” by using the Department of Justice to intimidate political opponents, largely bypassing Congress, and governing “through decrees and executive orders.” He continues that Donald Trump’s retreat from the global order has left Europe vulnerable in a world increasingly defined by the USA, China and Russia, “arranging the world for themselves.” He advises Europe to unify to avoid being "crushed between the great powers," however, he warns that the current trend toward militarization is insufficient. Instead, he calls for a focus on democratization and institution-building, asserting that Europe currently lacks the social infrastructure "to think about Europe as a whole."
Watch Vormann’s full Deutsche Welle interview in English on Youtube, and the full Tagesschau interview in German on Tagesschau.
Post Date: 01-21-2026