Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, argued Sunday that President Trump has amassed far greater executive authority than the nation's founders ever anticipated, sharpening a line of criticism Democrats have leveled since Trump's Independence Day address.
Speaking on CNN's State of the Union, Shapiro said, “Only more recently do we have an executive who, again, I think has accumulated way more power than our founders would have hoped or would have liked, who's trying to restrict liberty, who's trying to put a litmus test on who gets more liberty than others.” He called the rhetoric from the president and vice president “really dangerous and destructive” for singling out which Americans deserve freedom.
Shapiro's comments followed Trump's delayed July Fourth speech on the National Mall, where the president lauded the Constitution and complained about his legal treatment. Trump's address, cut short by heat and laced with partisan jabs, also aired grievances about his recent courtroom battles and legislative setbacks, including blows to voting restrictions and proof-of-citizenship requirements.
Democrats have pointed to a recent Supreme Court ruling that expanded presidential power, allowing the president to fire heads of independent agencies without cause, as evidence of a broader shift. Former President Bill Clinton, in a July Fourth statement, warned of a government “weaponized” to settle scores and suppress speech, with “masked agents” seizing people and an “unconstitutional war” launched without clear goals.
Shapiro, widely seen as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, urged his party to move beyond what he called “performative politics.” He said, “Democrats need to deliver the way we do here in Pennsylvania—deliver on things that make people's lives better.” He criticized Congress for engaging in “performative politics that might get some likes on Twitter ... but doesn't actually make someone's life better.”
The governor's remarks align with broader concerns about executive overreach, as watchdogs warn that Trump is systematically dismantling post-Watergate ethics reforms. Shapiro's focus on tangible outcomes rather than partisan noise reflects a strategy that could resonate in battleground governor races where Democrats seek to contrast competence with Trump's style.
Trump's speech, part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations, also touched on his vision for the country's future. But for Shapiro and other Democrats, the event underscored a presidency that has stretched constitutional limits, leaving the party to grapple with how to counter an increasingly powerful executive while delivering results for voters.
