Trump plotting 'all-gas-no-brakes' power grab spree as lame duck

President Donald Trump before boarding Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews from West Palm Beach, Florida, November 8, 2026. REUTERS/Eric Lee

President Donald Trump might have been rendered a lame duck of historic proportions by the GOP's midterm beating, but according to a new report from Axios, he refuses to act like it, plotting an "all-gas-no-brakes" approach to power grabs in his last two years.

In a report published Tuesday morning, Axios revealed that Trump is planning "to govern even more imperially" than he already has, despite the now-inevitable threat of impeachments and congressional investigations. With the clock ticking down to the end of his term, he is now "hell-bent on stretching executive power, targeting those on his enemies list, pardoning allies and daring the courts and Congress to slow him down."

"Trump and his allies are exploring executive action on new tariffs and immigration restrictions, and asserting greater control over spending," the report explained. "On X over the weekend, Trump discussed targeting and perhaps jailing Democrats who investigate administration officials. He claimed politically motivated harassment. Trump is retooling his White House by elevating the one official who's synonymous with his all-gas-no-brakes style: Stephen Miller, who took over for Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff on Monday."

With this new promotion for Miller, inside sources told Axios that Washington's entrenched network of lobbyists and special interest groups can expect "rougher sledding," given how much more fixated he is on "ideology" over the traditional political games.

"Stephen gives zero f—— what K Street thinks," one source told the outlet.

Going forward, the report claimed that Trump can be expected to pursue five goals in particular: "restore MAGA," "rule by pen," "target enemies," purge the 'deep state'" and continue obsessing over "more monuments" to himself. He is also betting that Republicans will come back to "solidarity" with his administration in the face of Democratic leadership in Congress, even if it may be "forced or begrudging."

Trump will also use the threat of targeted prosecution to try and cow Democrats from going after his administration, with his one-time advisor Roger Stone telling the outlet: "Many Democrat lawmakers are going to find themselves under indictment and fighting conviction. Watch."

"Trump is still Trump. He's 80 and it shows," the report summarized. "But he meets force with force and he'll go down swinging the more Democrats attack him."

"Trump and his team are at our best when our backs are against the wall," one anonymous advisor told Axios. "Trump comes out fighting. We're full-throated and full-throttle."

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