Trump Is Expanding His Power, but There Is a Limit: Who Can Challenge the US President?

Donald Trump is gradually expanding the powers of the presidency, but the American system still has mechanisms capable of keeping the White House in check. Congress can cut off funding, block appointments, and investigate the administration’s actions, but when it comes to nuclear weapons, NATO, and strategic technologies, the president’s influence remains particularly strong.

Uriel Epstein, executive director of the Renew Democracy Initiative, explained in an exclusive interview with 24 Channel how Congress can stand up to Trump, why his decisions regarding Russia and Starlink are cause for concern, and how the standoff in Washington could affect support for Ukraine.

Trump’s “Imperial Presidency”

Over the past few decades, the powers of U.S. presidents have gradually expanded. This trend is referred to as the “imperial presidency.” Under Donald Trump, it has intensified, but the American system still has mechanisms that allow for limiting the White House’s power.

Americans are dissatisfied not only with the president’s foreign policy decisions but also with domestic issues – corruption scandals, the economic situation, and rising prices. One source of criticism has been the use of presidential pardons, particularly regarding those involved in the January 6 storming of the Capitol.

At the same time, Congress plays a key role in keeping the president in check. It is Congress that controls the budget, confirms important appointments, and can investigate the administration’s actions.

Incidentally, in October 2026, Trump’s decisionallow the export of Russian diesel to global markets drew criticism from senators of both parties. Lawmakers stated that this move contradicted the policy of putting pressure on Russia, and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick promised to push for a vote on a bill to block the purchase of Russian oil.

Full interview with Epstein: watch the video

Congress Can Cut Off Trump’s Funding and Block Appointments

The House of Representatives’ main lever of power is control over the budget. Without lawmakers’ approval, the president cannot secure funding for many of his initiatives. The Senate, for its part, confirms key personnel appointments, including nominees for cabinet positions and judges.

Another tool at Congress’s disposal is the power to summon officials to hearings and demand the submission of documents. This could serve as a basis for investigations into the administration’s activities, particularly the contacts between Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff with foreign representatives.

Lawmakers can also use these powers to exert pressure on the White House’s foreign policy. For example, they can link support for presidential appointments to decisions regarding aid to Ukraine or the purchase of Russian energy resources.

Following the announcement of Trump’s agreement with Putin regarding Russian diesel fuel, senators from both parties called on the president to reconsider the decision. Separately, members of Congress raised the issue of possible restrictions on the operation of Starlink and Starshield for Ukraine and demanded that these reports be investigated.

Starlink and Nuclear Weapons – Where the President’s Influence Is Nearly Unlimited

Despite institutional safeguards, there are areas in which the U.S. president has particularly broad powers. In particular, these include decisions regarding the nuclear arsenal and strategic technologies.

Elon Musk's influence on the Starlink and Starshield satellite systems poses a particular risk to Ukraine. The Ukrainian military’s reliance on these technologies has demonstrated just how critical decisions can end up in the hands of a private company and its CEO.

As a reminder, in October, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedto U.S. lawmakers about problems with Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Starshield. Congress called for an investigation into possible restrictions on satellite services, and senators demanded explanations from SpaceX. At the same time, representatives of the Trump administration denied reports of such restrictions.

Roll Call: Trump Cannot Withdraw the U.S. from NATO, but He Can Weaken the Alliance

Congress passed a law that prevents the president from unilaterally withdrawing the U.S. from NATO. However, this does not deprive Trump of the ability to influence the country’s participation in the Alliance: he can reduce the U.S. military presence in Europe and alter the level of support provided to allies.

Against this backdrop, the White House’s attempts to demonstrate progress in relations with Russia raise questions about the true goals of such agreements. In particular, statements about an “energy truce” have been made repeatedly without clear confirmation from Moscow.

Interestingly, in October, Trump announced an agreement between Ukraine and Russia to cease attacks on energy infrastructure. However, Kyiv reportedreported that Russian attacks were continuing and emphasized that it expects Moscow to fulfill the agreements.

Ukraine Needs an Ambassador in Washington

Against the backdrop of the standoff between the White House and Congress, it is important for Ukraine to work not only with the Trump administration but also with lawmakers from both parties, the American media, and influential groups.

The absence of a Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. complicates this work. Chargé d’Affaires Denis Senik and the embassy team continue to communicate with American politicians and journalists; however, without a full-fledged head of the diplomatic mission, it is more difficult to cover all necessary areas.

Ukraine needs a representative who can work systematically with Congress, the presidential administration, the State Department, the Pentagon, and the Ukrainian community in the U.S. Under current conditions, such a diplomatic presence directly affects Kyiv’s ability to defend its interests in Washington.