Soft Authoritarianism, Served Tableside

What Trump’s demand for protester arrests at Joe’s Seafood really tells us about his instincts and intentions.

On the evening of September 7, 2025, Donald Trump sat down for dinner at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, a well-known upscale restaurant just a few blocks from the White House. He was joined by top Republican allies, including Senators Marco Rubio and J.D. Vance, in a celebratory moment tied to his latest “law and order” initiative in D.C.

Howev…