President Trump is seizing on the government shutdown as an “unprecedented opportunity” to consolidate control in the Oval Office, accelerating a trend toward unchecked power.

Why it matters: Many Democrats see the shutdown as a necessary evil to halt — or at least slow — Trump’s steamrolling of democratic norms and independent institutions. So far, the standoff is only emboldening the White House.

Zoom in: Trump said he met Thursday with White House budget chief Russ Vought to discuss what “Democrat agencies” should get cuts, casting the shutdown as a chance to shrink a federal workforce Trump has long viewed as hostile.

• Goading Democrats, Trump flaunted Vought’s role in Project 2025 (“he of PROJECT 2025 Fame”) — the hard-right blueprint for expanding executive power that Trump disavowed on the campaign trail after it became a political liability.
• For Vought, the shutdown offers a unique opening: a live test of theories he has spent years refining on how to weaken Congress, purge the bureaucracy and concentrate power in the presidency.

Already, Vought has announced the termination of nearly $8 billion in funding for clean-energy projects in 16 states, all of which voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 and have Democratic senators.

• He also has frozen $18 billion in New York City infrastructure projects, a thinly veiled shot at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).
• Legal challenges are inevitable: Congress controls the power of the purse, and federal officials privately have warned that Vought’s plans for mass firings during the shutdown may violate appropriations law.

The big picture: As Axios has documented, the shutdown is only one front in Trump’s broader campaign of consolidation.

• Military: In an unprecedented partisan address this week, Trump told more than 800 generals and admirals to prepare for a “war” against domestic “enemies,” urging them to treat America’s cities as “training grounds.”
• Academia: The administration is asking universities to sign a 10-point “compact” that would grant preferential access to federal funding if schools agree to freeze tuition, protect conservative speech, apply strict definitions of gender, limit international students and other Trump priorities.
• Rule of law: Days after Trump publicly pressured Attorney General Pam Bondi to charge his political enemies, the Justice Department indicted former FBI director James Comey. Other Trump foes, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), are under investigation.
• Civil society: FBI director Kash Patel severed ties with the Anti-Defamation League on Thursday, accusing the Jewish civil rights group of “functioning like a terrorist organization” after MAGA activists discovered that Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA was listed in its now-removed “Glossary of Extremism and Hate.” Trump also has urged the Justice Department to investigate Democratic megadonor George Soros’ Open Society Foundations as part of a crackdown on liberal groups following Kirk’s assassination.

• Corporate America: Trump demanded last week that Microsoft fire its head of global affairs, Lisa Monaco, because she served in the Biden administration — a reminder that even corporate giants aren’t immune from political retaliation. Trump had previously called on Intel’s CEO to resign over alleged ties to China, but backed off after the U.S. government took a 10% equity stake in the chip-maker.

What they’re saying: After contacting the White House press office for comment, Axios received an automated reply warning of delays “due to staff shortages resulting from the Democrat Shutdown.”

• Several government websites are displaying similar notices blaming Democrats or “the radical left” for the shutdown — potentially violating rules that prohibit partisan political activity by federal agencies.
• White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson later told Axios in a statement: “Any lapse in funding, this one brought on by the Democrats, unfortunately requires the Administration to make tough decisions to keep mandatory government functions operational.”

The bottom line: Government shutdown or not, Trump has spent his presidency methodically erasing the independence of institutions that once served as checks on executive power.

Doubts Over Trump’s Threat

While Hollywood remains skeptical, industry experts warn that President Donald Trump’s plan to impose a 100% tariff on films produced outside the United States could pose a significant threat to South Korea’s film industry.

Hollywood Skepticism

In late September, President Donald Trump rattled the global film industry once again when he reiterated his plan to slap a 100% tariff on movies produced abroad. The renewed statement signaled his seriousness and determination on the issue.

Shortly after, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer confirmed that his office would launch investigations into the global film industry before any tariffs are imposed.

Greer said that tariffs on the film sector were part of the Trump administration’s broader trade strategy, aimed at boosting American jobs and strengthening domestic production.

He also noted that such tariffs would not take immediate effect, but would depend on the results of the government’s investigation.

Hollywood’s reaction was one of surprise, concern, and skepticism. Just like back in May, Trump’s announcement lacked details on how such tariffs would be implemented or what products would be affected. Moreover, no actual policy has materialized in the five months since his initial statement.

“When Trump posted about this a few months ago, there were no details. How exactly do you tax a movie? Who ultimately pays that tax? But this is the second time he’s brought it up, so maybe he really is preparing something,” said entertainment lawyer Stephen Weizenecker of the U.S. law firm Barnes & Thornburg.

“It’s just more empty rhetoric. I don’t see how it benefits North America. He doesn’t understand that film is a global business,” British producer and Head Gear Films co-director Phil Hunt told Variety.

California Governor Gavin Newsom—whom Trump has called “weak” and “incompetent”—opposed the tariff plan. He said he had already tried months earlier to explain to the White House that such a move would cause irreparable harm to the U.S. film industry, but to no avail.

Democratic Assemblywoman Laura Friedman, who represents Hollywood, Burbank, and other major studio hubs, also criticized Trump’s proposal. She argued that tariffs would double production budgets, which in turn would drive up ticket prices for audiences.

“The proposal itself is confusing. When I talk to people in the industry, they don’t understand how it’s supposed to work either. More importantly, I worry this will increase costs for consumers. That’s not something the film industry wants to see,” she stressed.

Raphael Benoliel—a leading line producer and executive producer who has overseen numerous U.S. projects in France, including The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon and Emily in Paris—said there’s no reason to panic until official details are released.

“Right now, it’s a wait-and-see situation, because he often walks back what he says. He likes to create chaos, but I prefer to stay calm and patient,” he said.

South Korea on Alert

In South Korea, industry experts say Trump’s proposed 100% tariff on films produced abroad, if enacted, could seriously threaten the country’s booming content industry, which relies heavily on global streaming platforms.

Kim Dae-jong, a business administration professor at Sejong University in Seoul, noted that imposing a 100% tariff on foreign films and content could potentially violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and spark diplomatic disputes.

“Right now, Korean content is distributed globally through platforms like Netflix, Disney, and Amazon. With Korean film and television making up a significant share of exports and overseas investments, they could be directly impacted if the U.S. tightens its rules,” Kim said.

He warned that high tariffs or other trade restrictions could cause financial losses for Korean content companies, forcing them to cut spending and delaying the launch of new projects.

Still, Kim added that this would not mean total collapse, since Korean content has already diversified into Asian, European, and Middle Eastern markets. However, slower growth would be unavoidable.

Critics also pointed out that the legal foundation of Trump’s proposed tariffs remains unclear. Films and TV shows are usually distributed digitally rather than physically imported, making it difficult to determine how tariffs could even be applied. Moreover, it’s unknown what laws or regulations Trump would invoke to enforce such measures.

One South Korean industry insider questioned the feasibility of the plan, given the industry’s complex production structure.

“Since no specifics have been announced, we just have to wait. But I doubt how realistic this is. Film and TV production is highly fragmented—content isn’t created entirely in one place before being distributed. For instance, if a film is shot overseas but finished in post-production in the U.S., would that count as an import? We don’t know. Still, if his plan moves forward, Korea’s content industry will inevitably be affected,” the source told The Korea Times.

In the long term, experts argue South Korea must adjust its creative industry strategy.

“The government and industry need to accelerate diversification strategies by reducing reliance on the U.S. market. They should also strengthen the competitiveness of domestic streaming platforms and minimize risks by expanding production hubs in the U.S. through co-productions and joint ventures,” Kim suggested, while emphasizing that compelling content and a loyal global fan base remain Korea’s greatest assets.