Donald Trump just committed yet another felony  and this time he knows he’s been seen

Senator John Thune from South Dakota was seen at the Capitol. Recently, the president claimed he has the authority to keep paying members of the military, even though the government’s budget year ended on September 30.

At first, that might sound reasonable. Why should people serving in the military go unpaid just because politicians in Washington can’t agree on a spending deal? But when you look closer, it’s not reasonable at all.

What’s happening here is dangerous. Donald Trump is taking yet another step that breaks the law and gives him more control over public money — money that belongs to the American people. By doing this, he’s acting like he can use that money however he wants, even to fund a personal army if he chose to. It’s a serious threat to democracy and to the idea that the government must answer to the people.

The phrase “no taxation without representation” originally meant that people shouldn’t have to pay taxes if they don’t have a say in how that money is spent. Trump’s actions are doing the exact opposite — he’s spending people’s money without proper approval from Congress, which represents the people.

Here’s what’s been going on with the government shutdown:

Trump and the Republicans want Democrats to approve a short-term spending bill, called a continuing resolution, to keep the government funded at last year’s levels. The Democrats are open to doing that — but only if Trump agrees to renew federal health insurance subsidies that were expanded during the COVID pandemic under Obamacare.

Right now, the Democrats seem to have the upper hand. They don’t control the presidency, the Senate, or the House, but public opinion is turning in their favor. Rising health insurance premiums are upsetting many Republican voters. Even Marjorie Taylor Greene, a strong Trump supporter, has blamed her own party. Polls show that most Americans agree with her.

So at first glance, it looks like the Democrats might win this standoff.

But that version of the story is already outdated. It doesn’t take into account the Trump administration’s pattern of blocking or redirecting funds that Congress has already approved — something that is illegal under the Constitution. Article 1 gives Congress the sole authority to decide how federal money is spent, not the president.

Reports say the administration has withheld around $27 billion that was meant for Democratic-leaning districts — a move some experts call “ideological targeting.” This means they’re using federal funds to punish political opponents, which is unconstitutional.

Even if the Democrats get what they want — renewed Obamacare subsidies — there’s no guarantee the Trump administration would actually deliver the money. They’ve already shown a willingness to ignore the law. Plus, Republican leaders in Congress have said they might try to take back the funds later through legislative loopholes that only require a simple majority vote.

So this is no longer just about health care subsidies. Democrats are fighting to stop Trump from seizing control over federal money in ways that could make him unaccountable — in other words, acting like a king.

Now there’s a new development that makes the situation even more serious. The president has reportedly moved money from one government account to another — specifically, from research and development funds to military pay. That might sound like a simple accounting move, but it’s actually a major violation of the Constitution. Article 1, Section 9, Clause 7 clearly says that no money can be spent unless Congress approves it for that specific purpose.

Experts say this also breaks the Antideficiency Act, which makes it a federal crime for anyone in government to spend money that Congress hasn’t authorized. So, yes — this could legally be considered embezzlement.

In short, Trump’s latest action builds on earlier illegal ones. First, he refused to release funds (that’s impoundment). Now, he’s diverting money for purposes Congress didn’t approve (that’s misappropriation). Both are serious abuses of power, and if he’s not stopped, he’ll likely keep pushing those boundaries further.

Normally, wealthier “blue” states send more tax dollars to Washington than they get back, helping to support poorer “red” states. But under a president who’s using public money like his own personal wallet, that system could turn exploitative — almost colonial. Cities that didn’t vote for him could be punished financially, treated like territories instead of equal parts of the union. It’s a frightening but possible outcome of what happens when leaders ignore the principle of “taxation with representation.”

So where does that leave the Democrats? They face two hard truths.
First, they can’t compromise with Trump without becoming part of the corruption themselves.
Second, they’re the only group left with the power to hold him accountable. Trump won’t investigate or punish himself, and the Republican Party seems happy to look the other way.

Legal action might be possible, but even that would be difficult. Courts require plaintiffs to show that they’ve been directly harmed — a legal standard called “standing” — before they’ll hear a case. And with a Supreme Court that’s heavily tilted toward conservatives, it’s uncertain whether such cases would even move forward.

If the courts and law enforcement won’t act, the only remaining solution is political — real consequences must come from Congress and the American people. As Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said, only the Democrats can serve as that consequence.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has already hinted that Republicans are nervous. He mentioned the recent “No King’s” protest, which shows that ordinary people are paying attention. If the protest grows, it could remind Americans that this isn’t just about policy disagreements — it’s about whether the country remains a democracy or slides into rule by one man.

The real issue is about control, accountability, and equality. The United States was founded on the belief that all people are created equal — and that no one, not even a president, has the right to rule like a king.