On his 79th birthday, President Trump witnessed the realization of his eight-year dream: a grand military parade in the heart of Washington, D.C. Yet, as tanks rolled by, protests swelled nationwide accusing him of authoritarian ambitions.

As cities across the nation prepare for protests against “authoritarianism,” a critical perspective argues that these demonstrations challenge the very rule of law and reflect a deeper ideological divide over the meaning of freedom and morality.