Donald Trump Will Fundamentally Transform the Presidency

December 13, 2016

WRITER

Just as Barack Obama promised to --- and succeeded in --- transforming the United States of America, so too will Donald Trump fundamentally transform America and the presidency, possibly more than anyone else. Woodrow Wilson and FDR changed it a great deal, but will President-elect Trump take it even further than President Obama?

"He is going to fundamentally transform the media, the media that comes out of the White House, the way the president communicates, the way the president is viewed, the things the president can say and do, the way the president behaves, and I think the fundamental structure of the presidency itself," Glenn said Tuesday on radio.

Is that a good or a bad thing?

"Just let me make the same warning to the right that I gave to the left in 2008: Don't push the pendulum too far. If you allow the president to have all kinds of unlimited power, and you like it because it's your side, remember the pendulum will swing back just as far, if not further. And at some point, there will be an emergency, and some president is going to grab the pendulum," Glenn said.

Listen to this segment from The Glenn Beck Program:

Below is a rush transcript of this segment, it might contain errors:

GLENN: Let me go back to what we were talking about. Because I made a statement that I believe that Donald Trump will change and fundamentally transform the United States of America and the presidency, possibly more than anyone else did, besides -- no, I think even more so. Woodrow Wilson and -- Woodrow Wilson and -- and FDR changed it a great deal. And I think Donald Trump is going to take it further than Barack Obama did. And you can look at that as a good thing or a bad thing. Just let me make the same warning to the right that I gave to the left in 2008.

Don't push the pendulum too far. If you -- if you allow the president to have all kinds of unlimited power and you like it because it's your side -- remember, the pendulum will swing back just as far, if not further. And at some point, there will be an emergency, and some president is going to grab the pendulum.

PAT: And if you don't believe that, it's happened both ways since you started talking about this during the Bush administration. It swung to the left.

GLENN: Yeah.

PAT: And we had Obama. Now it swung way back to the right, and we got Trump.

GLENN: So here's what's really interesting -- let me just take you through this pendulum, and then I'll get to the reason why I say this with the prediction.

If you -- if you look in 2001, we were already really angry with the left and right. We were already really angry with each other because of 2000, right? The election. It was selected not elected. It was all of that.

Then it was George Bush knew. He was part of 9/11. They forgot that it was Sandy Berger that went in and stole all the documents. So we know the Clintons had something to hide as well. But I don't believe the Clintons nor George Bush knew the World Trade Centers were coming down, had any indication at all. It's just that we excuse a lot of things from the Saudis. Okay?

That's the only thing I think they were covering up. We excuse a lot from the Saudis. So we were already mad. And then what happened?

9/11 was such a crystallizing moment for, what?

What happened to us, as a people? And really, me and you, all of us, what happened to us at 9/11?

First of all, we all loved each other, right? We even looked at Nancy Pelosi, standing there, singing God bless America. And we were like, "You know what, she and Harry Reid, they love the country just as much as we do. And we're all in this together." Right? That was the first reaction.

And what were they singing? Governor God Bless America. Okay. Not a problem. But then we became jingoistic. Then everything was wrapped in the red, white, and blue. The Patriot Act. The phrase even, "You're either with us or you're against us." And if you were against us, you were un-American.

And what did Hillary Clinton say? "I am tired of being told that if I have a different opinion than my -- right?

So who did we elect? We elected a guy who people in the country actually believed wasn't an American. And he was probably the most unlike an American president, more than anyone else. Would you agree with that?

He was an American. I don't question any of that.

STU: I mean, as far -- you're not outing yourself as a birther years after the birther controversy?

GLENN: No. No.

STU: Okay.

GLENN: Never been a birther. Here's the thing: Is there a president that was more -- that had a different view of America, a different upbringing of America than any other president? Any other president have more of a different view of America?

STU: To illustrate this point, the Clinton campaign specifically had internal memos that said, "We're not going to point out that he -- we're never going to say that he doesn't have an American background. But he's not going to relate to the center of the country."

This is back in 2007 and 2008. And this was one of the things they thought they could press on, all the time. Constantly talk about Hillary and her upbringing and the fact that she's been in America the whole time.

GLENN: Yeah.

STU: And she has those same values. They even saw that as a point of differentiation.

GLENN: Right. It's not good or bad. It just is. The guy grew up in a different -- more different than any other president that we've ever had. Okay?

Spent a lot of his time, not even overseas in Europe, which is similar, but Asia, which is completely different than what we know as the American experience.

So he comes in. His name is Barack Obama. The pendulum had swung so far to the baseball, apple pie, and mom, and red, white, and blue, that when it swung back, it swung to a guy named Barack Obama.

Then I said at that time, "If he is elected -- because he was so click. Remember, pendulum also (sound effect) shoe. Remember all of that from George W. Bush?

STU: Right.

GLENN: Where he was at times seemed incapable of coming up with easy words.

STU: Uh-huh.

GLENN: Barack Obama, never lost for words. Barack Obama, on prompter, slick, slick, slick. No George Bush moments, at least to be seen of Barack Obama trying to get the doors opened in China. No, you know, turkey sticking his, you know, face into the president's pants. All of those faux pas, completely eradicated. The halo. So it swings all the way back.

At the time, we're going to have a gravy stain guy that said, "Yeah, I farted. Everybody farts, right?" Well, that pretty much is Donald Trump.

STU: Completely right. That prediction -- the pendulum theory on that worked exactly the way you said it was going to work.

GLENN: Exactly right. Exactly right. So what does the pendulum going go back to? I'm not sure yet. But no place good. No place good.

STU: I'll tell you where it goes back to. He's in the Trump Tower right now, meeting with Donald Trump. His name's Kanye West. Kanye 2020. That's what it ends up as.

GLENN: I think if we're lucky, it swings back to Tom Hanks. We look for an adult in the room. And it swings back to somebody like Tom Hanks. But it could swing to a Kanye West.

STU: We're at the point now we're not even considering people who aren't celebrities. It's either Kanye or Tom Hanks. Which one is it going to be?

GLENN: So here is the reason why I say that Donald Trump is going to change the presidency more than any other president ever.

We have said for a long time, "This job is too big. This job is just -- how come you be somebody who has run a company, is perfectly clean in everything, is -- can -- can use the media and understand how to communicate ideas -- how can you be all of those things?"

We've said forever, "You can't. You can't."

And so we've gone -- we have gone for people who just know the Constitution. But that's not very popular.

Look at, Ted Cruz was the worst when it comes to communication skills. The worst.

But he is -- in my opinion, he was the most competent on the -- on the dais. The most competent.

Now, a lot of people thought, "Oh, I like Ted Cruz, but he's just the worst when it comes to presentation. So I'll go for Marco Rubio. I'll go for Donald Trump." A lot of people went for Donald Trump because, quote, he could win. He will beat Hillary. He will beat the press.

Well, that's only one part of the presidency.

Donald Trump is meeting today with Kanye West. What could he possibly have to say to Kanye West? Nothing. The guy is a showman. The guy is -- he is putting together a show for America.

Now, I think that's important. And it may be -- to get things done, it may one of the most important things. But how he puts everything together, I don't know.

But look at how he's already changed.

The president, under George W. Bush, was -- was an honored space. You didn't go in -- you didn't go into the Oval Office -- think of this. During the George Bush administration, a lot of people were up in arms because one of the girls volleyball teams or something -- a couple of the girls showed up in the Oval Office wearing flip-flops. Do you remember that controversy?

STU: Yes. Yeah.

GLENN: Okay. Somebody was in the picture, in the Oval Office wearing flip-flops.

The president, until Barack Obama, didn't carry a phone. The controversy of him carrying a phone -- who do you need to call? You're the president. They'll get them on the phone for you. Why do you need a phone?

Now it has swung back so far from that, that we can tell you when the president-elect gets up at night to go pee. It's usually about 3 o'clock in the morning because that's when he tweets again. So he's getting up in the morning to take a pee, sitting down on the crapper and deciding to tweet something, then go back to bed.

He is going to fundamentally transform the media, the media that comes out of the White House, the way the president communicates, the way the president is viewed, the things the president can say and do, the way the president behaves, and I think the fundamental structure of the presidency itself.

Featured Image: President-elect Donald Trump and Kanye West stand together in the lobby at Trump Tower, December 13, 2016 in New York City. President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team are in the process of filling cabinet and other high level positions for the new administration. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is Gen Z’s anger over housing driving them toward socialism?

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A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

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