The Rise of an Orwellian Society Under the 2025 Trump Administration
By Ben Cable (Originally Published on Substack)
In George Orwell’s 1984, the Party’s slogan “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength” encapsulates the paradoxical reality of a totalitarian regime. Fast forward to 2025, and it seems the United States is inching closer to this dystopian vision under the Trump administration. With a blend of media manipulation, suppression of dissent, and consolidation of power, the foundations of democracy appear increasingly fragile.
Photo by Nahid Hatami on Unsplash
Media Manipulation: Controlling the Narrative
The administration’s approach to media has evolved into a strategic campaign to dominate public discourse. In a move reminiscent of Orwell’s Ministry of Truth, the White House now handpicks journalists for press briefings, sidelining the White House Correspondents’ Association, a practice that has been in place for over a century (uscannenbergmedia.com). This selective access ensures that only favorable narratives reach the public.
Furthermore, the administration has targeted specific media outlets. The Associated Press was barred from press pool events after refusing to adopt the administration’s preferred term “Gulf of America” over the longstanding “Gulf of Mexico”. Such actions raise concerns about the erosion of press freedom and the chilling effect on journalistic independence.
Defunding and Dismantling Oversight: A Bureaucratic Purge
The administration’s commitment to “draining the swamp” has taken a literal turn with the dismissal of numerous inspectors general across federal agencies. In January 2025, approximately 17 inspectors general were removed, citing “changing priorities”. This purge undermines accountability mechanisms and raises questions about the administration’s transparency.
Simultaneously, mass layoffs have been implemented across various departments. The Department of Veterans Affairs faces cuts of up to 70,000 jobs, potentially jeopardizing services for millions of veterans (cnn.com). The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also experienced significant reductions, with reports indicating that up to 95% of its workforce could be eliminated. These actions suggest a deliberate weakening of institutions designed to protect public interests.
Consolidation of Power: The Role of Oligarchs
The intertwining of politics and business has reached new heights. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, a prominent supporter of the administration, has been instrumental in reshaping federal agencies. Musk’s influence extends to the Federal Communications Commission, where his allies have been appointed to key positions. This consolidation of power raises concerns about the erosion of democratic checks and balances.
Attacks on Dissent: Silencing Opposition
The administration’s approach to dissent has become increasingly aggressive. Defunding universities that allow students rights to assemble and exercise free speech in addition to calls for revoking the broadcast licenses of networks like CBS and ABC have been made, accusing them of biased reporting. Such rhetoric mirrors the tactics of authoritarian regimes that seek to suppress opposing viewpoints.
Photo by Mohammed Ibrahim on Unsplash
A concerted effort to repress voices, that are in defense of the citizens of Gaza and/or against the “war” on Gaza, labels the voices as “antisemitic”.
My Voice: Let me be very clear, I am against the systematic destruction of Gaza, the ritual killing and starvation of its people including children, and the slaughter of humanitarian workers that try to provide aid. These actions are inhumane. I do not support Benjamin Netanyahu who has been convicted of war crimes by the International Criminal Court and a warrant for his arrest was issued in November 2024. I can be pro-American, pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian at the same time. This is dangerous speech under this administration; if I was an immigrant I could be deported, as a citizen my professional and private life would be target and could face scrutiny and I face hate mail or worse.
Additionally, the administration has employed legal threats and economic pressure to silence critics. The case of Associated Press v. Budowich highlights the lengths to which the administration will go to control the narrative, including barring journalists from press events over disagreements on terminology.
Jailing and Deporting Students for Exercising Free Speech
In an alarming development, students exercising their First Amendment rights have found themselves targeted by the administration. Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and legal permanent resident, was arrested by immigration authorities in March 2025. His detention followed his involvement in campus protests against the U.S. war in Gaza. Despite his lawful status, Khalil was detained and faced potential deportation, with the administration citing his political activities as justification.
On March 25th, masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Rumeysa Ozturk a Tufts University student, to deport her. According to The Washington Post, “the State Department determined that the Trump administration had not produced any evidence showing that she engaged in antisemitic activities or made public statements supporting a terrorist organization.”
Similarly, Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, was arrested and detained in Louisiana. The administration’s justification for his detention was his alleged promotion of Hamas propaganda, a claim his lawyer disputes, arguing that Suri was targeted due to his Palestinian heritage and political views.
These actions, including the revocation of hundreds of student visas, represent a disturbing trend of penalizing individuals for their political beliefs, raising serious concerns about the erosion of free speech protections in the United States.
Labeling Immigrants as Gang Members and Deporting Them to Notorious Jails
The administration has adopted aggressive tactics in its immigration enforcement policies. Venezuelan immigrants, including many without criminal records, have been labeled as dangerous gang members and deported to El Salvador’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT). This facility is infamous for its harsh conditions and human rights abuses. Despite court orders halting such deportations, the administration has proceeded with these removals, citing national security concerns.
Photo by Hasan Almasi on Unsplash
In another instance, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man, was mistakenly deported to El Salvador despite a court order prohibiting his removal. The administration later acknowledged the error but maintained that he was a known MS-13 member, a claim his family disputes. The case underscores the administration’s willingness to disregard judicial authority and due process in its immigration enforcement efforts.
A Slippery Slope Towards Authoritarianism
The developments of 2025 suggest a concerning shift towards authoritarianism. The erosion of press freedom, dismantling of oversight institutions, and consolidation of power by oligarchs all point to a weakening of democratic norms. As citizens, it is imperative to remain vigilant and advocate for the preservation of democratic principles.
The events of 2025 don’t just read like a cautionary tale they feel like deleted chapters from 1984 that Orwell decided were a little too on-the-nose.
Let me be clear: we’re now living in a political atmosphere where protesting a war can land you in jail, and immigrants can be branded “terrorists” with little more than a tweet and a hunch. Students are being rounded up and deported, not because they broke the law, but because they dared to speak up. Apparently, free speech is only free if you say the right things and agree with the system.
Ask yourself: when a graduate student attending a U.S. university legally, engaging in peaceful protest, is suddenly labeled a national security threat and deported what exactly is left of our so-called democratic ideals?
Meanwhile, the immigration crackdown has moved from draconian to downright dystopian. Imagine being plucked from your home in Maryland and shipped off to one of the world’s most brutal prisons in El Salvador, not because you’ve been convicted of a crime, but because someone thinks you might be associated with a gang. No trial. No due process. Just a one-way ticket to hell in a prison built for optics, not justice.
Let’s not forget that all of this is happening with the blessing and often the financial backing of the ultra-wealthy. The Musk-Trump alliance, once dismissed as billionaire bravado, is now a full-blown political force. From reshaping the FCC to rewriting the rules of online speech, this oligarchic duo is setting the tone for what truth even means in this country. (Spoiler alert: it’s whatever they say it is.)
What We’re Losing … And Fast
- Truth, now filtered through state-vetted media and algorithm controlled billionaire-owned platforms.
- Justice, as legal safeguards like inspectors general and regulatory agencies are stripped down to ghosts.
- Free speech, reserved only for those whose messages align with the regime.
- Human rights, when immigrant families are deported into violence and students are jailed for peaceful protest.
The most chilling part? There’s been little institutional resistance. Judges are being intimidated and delivered pizzas to say, “I know where you and your children live”, oversight mechanisms dismantled, and watchdog agencies hollowed out. And a good portion of the public has either tuned out or tuned into a propaganda stream curated to keep them compliant and afraid.
So What Now?
Photo by Ethan Rougon on Unsplash
This isn’t just about one man or one administration. It’s about the systematic dismantling of a democratic society under the banner of “law and order,” “American values,” or ironically “freedom.” The authoritarian playbook is being followed step by step, and we’re now well into Act III.
We don’t get a do-over. But we do have a choice. Will we normalize this, shrug off the detentions, the deportations, the censorship, the corruption? Or will we resist it loudly, legally, and together?
Because here’s the deal: if Orwell was right, the future isn’t just a boot stamping on a human face forever it’s a boot with a Trump logo, Musk’s neural chip, and a Fox News chyron justifying every stomp.
Let’s not let that be the last page of the American story.
