Donald Trump recently said that in his second term, “I run the country and the world” without worrying about advisers, elected and appointed government officials, and courts working against him. Even within the context of comparing his two terms, it is an alarming view of presidential power, and identifies a man who in every nuance and overt action aspires to wear a crown, be worshipped, and dutifully bribed by all seeking his favor.

Trump has repeatedly praised dictators who command their people through force and threats. In 2018, he exposed his impulses during a trip to Asia, noting that North Koreans “sit up in attention” when the brutal dictator Kim Jong Un (over 300 political executions estimated before 2016) speaks. “I want my people to do the same,” he added.

Make no mistake: dictators are simply modern-day kings. Instead of claiming they rule by “divine rights” granted by God, they rationalize their power using staged elections which, of course, show nearly unanimous support. A dictator’s inner circle, like members of a king’s court, can count on increasing their wealth and power — as long as they remain unquestioning and loyal. If not, their heads may roll along with others’ on the enemies list.

When people “sit up in attention” to dictators (any other actions may prove deadly), dictators may achieve some minor successes. During Mussolini’s reign of terror in Italy, he often took credit for “making the trains run on time” (although his responsibility for improvements is widely disputed). During our last election, it appears that some people voted for a few relatively minor victories at the expense of the big picture: lowered consumer prices (they are rising instead, with tariffs predicted to make them worse) and vengeful attacks against perceived enemies (plenty of those) vs. the continuation of the rule of law in a democracy.

It’s still puzzling that America elected a would-be king twice, when our history points so obviously in the opposite direction. Just over 50 years ago, congressional oversight (by his own Republican Party) during the Watergate hearings led Americans to emphatically reject Richard Nixon’s attempts to establish an “imperial presidency.” But our country’s most revered and revolutionary document, the Declaration of Independence, was even more explicit in rejecting rule by an authoritarian king.

More than half of its 1,300 words specify the abuses of King George III. It charged him with attempting to establish “an absolute Tyranny” over the colonies, and listed multiple examples, many of which are eerily reminiscent of today: he used convoluted legislative tactics against the colonies ”for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance;” obstructed “the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners;” refused to follow laws which establish “Judiciary powers;” sent “swarms of Officers to harass our people;” “cut off our Trade with all parts of the world;” deprived many people “of the benefits of Trial by Jury;” and altered “fundamentally the Forms of our Governments.”

As a final indictment, the document charges that he “excited domestic insurrections amongst us.” King George III’s character “is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant” and “is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” They knew they were stepping into a dangerous war against the most powerful army on earth, but their belief in a democratic system propelled them forward.

In their rejection of an authoritarian king, the colonies became “united” states, rather than divided ones, although finding common ground proved harder than uniting against an enemy. Today, President Trump is an enemy to democracy, seeking the dictatorial powers of a king.

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Any doubt about his goal, one shared by his handlers and enablers, is erased in the GOP’s “Big, Beautiful Bill.” One section would prevent the courts from enforcing contempt rulings unless a large fee is paid up front. Since the Supreme Court already found that Trump can’t be charged for crimes committed as part of “official” duties, this goes even further in changing the president into a king. He and his administration could then, legally, ignore contempt of court charges stemming from refusing to follow court orders. Just like King George III, they could refuse to abide by laws which establish “Judiciary powers.”

Our response needs to be as united as the signers of the Declaration of Independence, who concluded by pledging “to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” Like the colonists, our lives, fortunes and honor are all at stake. Americans didn’t accept kings or dictators then, and we shouldn’t accept them now.

Allen Woods is a freelance writer, author of the Revolutionary-era historical fiction novel “The Sword and Scabbard,” and Greenfield resident. His column appears regularly on a Saturday. Comments are welcome here or at awoods2846@gmail.com.