In his book "How Democracies Die," author Steven Levitsky discusses actions taken by governments to undermine opposition by restricting their control over critical local services and infrastructure. He draws a parallel between former Venezuelan President Chávez's strategies against opposition-led city administrations and actions proposed by President Trump during his term in office. Both leaders sought to consolidate power by limiting opposition influence over essential operations.

However, while Chávez was able to implement these strategies effectively, Trump faced legal challenges that hindered his efforts. The judicial system played a crucial role in blocking Trump's plans, emphasizing the importance of checks and balances in a democratic society. Levitsky's analysis serves as a cautionary tale about how democracies can erode when leaders pursue power at the expense of opposition governance.