President-elect Donald Trump is already demonstrating significant authority, indicating a potential effort to undermine the established checks and balances in Washington, while foreign leaders are left trying to adjust to his electoral success.

Initial indications from Mar-a-Lago, the Florida venue where Trump is assembling his new administration, imply that upon his return to the White House in January, empowered by a decisive victory and a democratic mandate, he intends to operate with considerable assertiveness.

Trump has utilized social media to direct Senate Republicans participating in this week’s majority leader election to support recess appointments for his Cabinet nominees, and all three candidates have promptly indicated their willingness to consider this approach. He appears poised to govern with a firm grip on a Republican-dominated power structure—assuming Republicans secure control of the House, which CNN has yet to confirm—viewing Congress more as a formality than as an independent, co-equal branch of government.

The decisions made by the president-elect signal the onset of an administration characterized by outsider populism rather than traditional power structures. For instance, he has excluded Mike Pompeo and Nikki Haley from Cabinet positions, both of whom held significant foreign policy roles previously. On Sunday, he proposed the position of US ambassador to the United Nations to New York Representative Elise Stefanik, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Additionally, his choice to include billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk in a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—an opportunity typically reserved for senior foreign policy officials—illustrates how Trump’s unconventional approach will disrupt established governance norms.

The long-term consequences of Trump’s victory are becoming increasingly apparent. Speculation surrounding future Supreme Court vacancies and potential retirements underscores the next president’s ability to solidify the ultra-conservative majority he has cultivated into the coming decades.

Federal employees are bracing for an anticipated purge of career bureaucrats, as Trump allies are eager to replace them with political appointees willing to implement directives that could dismantle the regulatory framework and diminish central government authority. Furthermore, CNN reported last week on discussions within the Pentagon regarding the military’s response to any orders to act against American citizens, following Trump’s campaign assertions that he might break longstanding taboos regarding the use of force on domestic soil.

Another pressing question is how far Trump will go in seeking retribution against his political adversaries in light of the impeachments, indictments, and a conviction that he has used as a foundation for his campaign. Upcoming Cabinet nominations, including that of attorney general, will provide insight into the extent of his desire for vengeance.

Democrats are grappling with the significant repercussions of their inability to prevent Trump’s resurgence, leading to a cycle of self-blame. They currently lack a definitive leader to rejuvenate their message or a solid power base should the Republicans maintain control of the House. This situation is likely to bolster Trump’s position in the coming weeks.

Internationally, Trump’s ascendance is prompting a substantial reevaluation of geopolitical strategies. Leaders from Europe to Taiwan, and Iran to Russia, are strategizing on how to navigate the uncertainties associated with Trump’s return. Some are hastily attempting to win favor with the president-elect, while others are preparing for potential backlash.

The increasing sense of urgency and recalibration both domestically and globally highlights that Trump is poised to return to office with greater power than during his initial term, benefiting from reduced constraints. His victories in all seven battleground states—Arizona being confirmed by CNN on Saturday—provide him with popular legitimacy. Additionally, his unique achievement of becoming only the second president to serve non-consecutive terms positions him as a significant historical figure rather than a mere anomaly.

This new political landscape will be evident on Wednesday when Trump visits the White House for lunch with President Joe Biden, who defeated him in 2020 but whose influence diminishes as Trump reasserts his own.

Trump’s resolve to assert unmatched authority is manifesting across various dimensions.

Staffing: His prompt decision to appoint campaign co-chair Susie Wiles as the first female chief of staff signals his intention for a rapid commencement.

The dismissal of Pompeo and Haley conveys a significant narrative. Pompeo, who served as CIA director and secretary of state, was previously regarded as a loyal ally during Trump’s first term. However, he has recently been labeled a member of the “Deep State” by Trump advisor Roger Stone. Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the UN, criticized Trump during her primary campaign, and he subsequently overlooked her offer to assist on the campaign trail. The implication is unmistakable: only staunch MAGA supporters are welcome for new roles in the administration.

Stefanik, who currently chairs the House GOP conference, began her congressional career as a moderate Republican from upstate New York but has advanced in leadership by consistently supporting Trump.

Trump’s Influence on Washington Republicans: Since his victory rally last week, Trump has largely remained out of the public eye. However, his social media activity has gained significant traction. On Sunday, he indicated his intention to exert control over multiple branches of government by setting conditions for candidates vying for leadership positions within the Senate Republican ranks.

“Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner,” Trump stated on X.

Historically, presidents have utilized recess appointments as a strategy to confirm Cabinet nominees in the face of opposition. Trump may seek to broaden this approach to secure extended temporary appointments for nominees deemed controversial or unqualified by certain senators, including members of his own party. However, Democrats could potentially obstruct efforts to enter recess through filibuster tactics.

Tony Carrk, executive director of Accountable.US, a nonpartisan oversight organization, cautioned that “President-Elect Trump is attempting to undermine our checks and balances and centralize authority by insisting that Senate Republicans bypass their constitutional responsibilities and appoint his nominees without public oversight.”

Florida Senator Rick Scott, who has garnered support for the majority leader position from prominent MAGA figures such as Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, quickly committed to aligning with their agenda. South Dakota Senator John Thune and Texas Senator John Cornyn, both established members of the Senate, who are viewed as frontrunners in the upcoming secret-ballot election, also expressed a willingness to consider this direction—indicating the delicate balance they would need to maintain with Trump during his presidency.

Thune, currently serving as the minority whip, shared on X that all possibilities were being considered, including recess appointments. Cornyn also took to X to assert that Republicans would remain in session to counter any Democratic attempts to obstruct Trump’s nominees, stating: “Furthermore, the Constitution explicitly grants the President the authority to make recess appointments.”

Retribution: Washington is anxiously observing whether Trump will act on his promise to leverage his newfound authority against his adversaries.

During an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan asserted, “I don’t believe any of that will occur.” The Ohio Republican told Dana Bash, “We are the party that opposes political prosecution. We stand against targeting opponents through legal means.” Nevertheless, Jordan has formally cautioned special counsel Jack Smith, who has overseen federal criminal inquiries into Trump, to retain records, thereby keeping the door open for a potential congressional investigation.

Trump’s most strategic political move may be to focus all his efforts on his agenda for the first 100 days. However, his longstanding principle has been to seek retribution against those he perceives as enemies.

Musk’s Role in Government: A recent incident highlighted how Trump’s anticipated second term may be even more unconventional than his first.

Musk, the visionary behind Tesla and SpaceX, participated in a call between Trump and Zelensky the day after the election, according to a source familiar with the matter, as reported by CNN.

While a president-elect has the authority to include anyone on a call, Musk’s significant government contracts raise concerns about a potential conflict of interest. His involvement alongside Trump—whom he actively supported and promoted on X, the platform he owns—underscores this issue.

Additionally, Musk’s Starlink internet service plays a vital role for Ukrainian forces engaged in the fight against Russia’s aggressive invasion. Given Trump’s commitment to ending the conflict and his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Musk’s participation could be seen as a means of exerting pressure on Zelensky should he resist Trump’s future requests.

More broadly, the friendship between Trump and Musk provides an intriguing insight into the unconventional network of advisors Trump is likely to assemble in Washington. Their relationship not only affirms Trump’s status as a figure of interest to the world’s wealthiest individual but also grants Musk privileged access to the soon-to-be most influential leader. Both exemplify how outsiders can leverage their immense wealth to gain significant power, traditionally held by established political figures.

Foreign leaders are actively seeking to establish rapport with the president-elect, making congratulatory calls while facing domestic scrutiny regarding their strategies for engagement. Trump is signaling a return to the aggressive foreign policy that characterized his initial term, and there are growing concerns that he may disregard NATO’s fundamental principle of mutual defense or jeopardize Taiwan’s security by suggesting that the U.S. would not intervene if China were to invade the democratic island.

Consequently, many long-held beliefs about American influence and policy that have shaped the post-World War II and post-Cold War landscape are now in question. This dilemma for U.S. allies was articulated by French President Emmanuel Macron, who experienced the unpredictability of Trump’s first term firsthand.

With anticipated increases in transatlantic tensions, Macron emphasized last week that Trump was elected to prioritize American interests and raised doubts about Europe’s ability to safeguard its own. “I have no intention of leaving Europe as a stage inhabited by herbivores, only for carnivores to come and devour us according to their agenda,” Macron stated, as translated from his remarks on his official X account.