Pandora’s Box

The Trump administration’s approach to governance in his first term

Is like the myth of Pandora’s box: once opened, it unleashed chaos, confusion, and unforeseen consequences that could not easily be contained. Much like Pandora’s act of curiosity and disregard for warning, Trump and his team dismissed institutional norms and expert advice, triggering waves of political turmoil, misinformation, and erosion of trust in democratic systems. What emerged was not just a series of isolated missteps, but a cascade of crises—ranging from public health mismanagement (Covid!) to diplomatic breakdowns—that spread far beyond their point of origin. As in the myth, where only “hope” remained in the box, the aftermath of the administration left many clinging to the resilience of democratic institutions and principled career civil servants as the last safeguard against lasting damage.

Comparing Trump’s first administration to his current one, the Pandora’s box metaphor highlights an even sharper contrast. The first term opened the lid and let loose disorder—chaotic policymaking, disregard for expertise, and daily crises that spiraled outward with little foresight or accountability. His current administration, however, more closely resembles the lingering aftereffects of the myth: the box has already been opened, and the toxic forces it unleashed—polarization, institutional distrust, cruelty and weakened alliances—continue to spread, compounded by new waves of rash, uninformed decisions and internal dysfunction. What was once incompetence fueled by novelty and disruption has, in his second term, hardened into a sustained and intentional atmosphere of instability, dysfunction, blatant racism, callous cruelty and utter destruction, leaving “hope” not in the White House, but in the ability of others—institutions, courts, and the public citizens —to withstand and clean up the ongoing devastation.

As for me, I am hoping against hope that the courts can and will stand firm.