Column: Trump’s ‘revenge tour’ tests norms and sparks reform debate

A Daily Mail column by conservative pundit Dan McLaughlin argues that Donald Trump is on a 'revenge tour' and is using leverage from government power to pursue political opponents. The piece frames recent episodes as evidence that Trump has moved beyond traditional policy disputes toward punitive actions aimed at critics, and it contends that such tactics could reshape conservative strategy in Washington if left unchecked.

McLaughlin cites a memorial service for Charlie Kirk on a Sunday in which Trump reportedly told attendees, 'I hate my opponent, and I don't want the best for them.' The column says the remark reflects a worldview in which enemies are treated as targets and legal and regulatory tools are viewed as means of leverage. It portrays this mindset as part of a broader pattern of actions designed to bend institutions to a political end.

The column details how Trump and allies have leaned on federal regulators and media owners to influence coverage. It notes FCC chair Brendan Carr publicly threatened to use the commission's merger authority to pressure networks over what they air, a threat the column frames as an attempt to shape debate. It cites ABC's decision last week to suspend, then reinstate, Jimmy Kimmel after what the piece describes as a controversial on-air portrayal of Charlie Kirk. It also notes that roughly seventy affiliates reportedly chose not to air Trump's return to late-night television, a sign, the column says, of divided reactions within the conservative media ecosystem.

On Truth Social, Trump urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey, California Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James, according to the column. It characterizes those posts as a direct call to prosecute perceived political enemies and as part of a broader pattern of using public posts to push for legal action against opponents who helped expose investigations into Trump and his associates.

McLaughlin places these actions within a longer struggle over the proper balance of power and accountability. The piece contrasts Republicans' complaints about Democratic use of power with Democratic criticisms of Trump-era conduct, arguing that both sides have bent rules and norms to gain advantage. It points to historical moments in which Democrats, such as Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid in 2015, pushed aggressive tactics against opponents, and it notes similar shifts in Republican strategy when in power.

To address these concerns, the column argues for reforms that curb government powers it says have grown beyond their constitutional remit. It advocates reconsidering or repealing certain criminal laws and independent counsel mechanisms, reducing federal regulators' influence over private business decisions, and limiting government funding that affects political speech and higher education. It says these steps would help reduce the risk that political disputes metastasize into prosecutions and regulatory encroachments that swallow normal politics.

It concludes with a warning that Trump did not ignite this cycle but that it must end. The author says conservatives should pursue an exit from scorched-earth tactics by pursuing reforms and a more restrained use of government power, arguing that such changes would better protect civil politics and prevent political resentments from undermining democratic norms.