A dictator is a political leader who possesses absolute power. A state which is ruled by a dictator is called a dictatorship. The word originated as the title of a magistrate in the Roman Republic appointed by the Senate to rule the republic in times of emergency (see Roman dictator and justitium).
Like the term "tyrant" (which was originally a non-pejorative Ancient Greek title), and to a lesser degree "autocrat", "dictator" came to be used almost exclusively as a non-titular term for oppressive rule. Thus, in modern usage, the term "dictator" is generally used to describe a leader who holds or abuses an extraordinary amount of personal power. Dictatorships are often characterised by some of the following: suspension of elections and civil liberties; proclamation of a state of emergency; rule by decree; repression of political opponents; not abiding by the rule of law procedures, and cult of personality. Dictatorships are often one-party or dominant-party states.
If Trump can willy-nilly order companies to stop doing business overseas, then Obama could do the same thing. Just say “It is an emergency” and the President has total authority over all business.
That is totally wrong. If Congress declares war, or the President can convince Congress X is an emergency, then he can do a number of things. But China responding to our tariffs by imposing their tariffs is hardly an emergency.
We used to tell people, “What Obama can do, a conservative President can do.” We were right to sound that warning then. Now...what Trump can do, Warren can do.
How many here believe Elizabeth Warren should be able to tell a business to pull out of Israel immediately? Or to stop lending money to any business that sells guns because “Guns are a national emergency”?
Do y’all see NO LIMIT on presidential power? And do you want to live in that world when, as will eventually happen, a Democrat is President?