Donald Trump’s war with America is provoking fear and confusion and whipping critics into obedience, at dizzying speed.

This will not end well — not if Americans allow him to go unchecked.

Trump marked his return to the White House with sweeping executive orders and directives to dismantle the immigration system, end diversity programs, pardon Jan. 6 violent rioters and threaten tariffs and foreign invasions.

He froze massive funding for infrastructure, transportation and energy projects that will cost countless jobs. He ordered federal workers back to the office, declared a national emergency to expand oil production and ordered withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement and the World Health Organization.

We expected some of that. But Trump’s return to power is much more damaging than many of us anticipated. The speed, the intensity and the extent of his actions this week is just too staggering.

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They joined Trump instead of calling him out

I get that the barrage is meant to thank his MAGA supporters and to overwhelm critics who dare to speak up on behalf of the most vulnerable, who still have the courage to fight him and protect the nation’s democratic ideals.

But what many of us didn’t anticipate is how fast some people who, at minimum, should remain neutral are aligning with Trump and seemingly embracing his imperialistic and disruptive vision for America.

Take, for instance, billionaires like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and others who control powerful traditional and social media outlets. They are quickly rallying behind Trump to protect their government contracts or avoid his wrath.

Or the politicians who got elected on Trump’s coattails, including Arizona U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, a Mexican native who went all-in for the MAGA movement that swept the country with lies of a stolen election, that stoked fear of migrants invading America and “eating their cats and dogs.”

Or take Ruben Gallego, Arizona’s first Latino elected to the U.S. Senate who until recently championed progressive causes. He has now become Trump’s useful tool — at least, when it comes to his mass deportation plans.

Ruben Gallego, of all people, should know better

I thought, naively, that Democrats like Gallego who understand human suffering, working people and the struggles of minorities, would at least try to hold the line.

But no.

It’s deeply disappointing to see Gallego help Trump, and on immigration of all things. Gallego co-sponsored the Laken Riley Act that mandates the arrest and deportation of undocumented immigrants accused of low-level crimes like burglary, theft, larceny or shoplifting.

Gallego’s defense of the legislation, which is now awaiting Trump’s signature to become law, doesn’t cut it. He says Latinos and his Arizona constituents want immigration enforcement.

But why didn’t he tell us that during the campaign? And why champion this legislation that also guts due process and allows states to meddle with immigration enforcement?

This is the same guy who rose to power by championing progressive causes and representing a mostly poor and predominantly Latino district.

It’s just so disheartening.

Do Democrats really think Trump will negotiate?

Whatever Gallego, Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly and U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton, who also backed the Laken Riley Act, think they can get out of Trump in return better be big and worth it.

But I doubt it. Trump can’t be trusted. Period.

After all, Trump has total control. He has the White House, the Senate, the House and a U.S. Supreme Court that he packed with hand-picked justices.

What makes Democrats think that Trump or Republican senators will work them?

For our country’s sake, I hope I’m wrong. I hope these and the other Democrats are savvy and persuasive enough to get something big in return for supporting Trump in his first week back at the White House.

Otherwise, what’s next? Are Democrats going to embrace Trump’s plans to grab Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal?

Now is the time to show courage and unity

There will be a time to negotiate — if there’s even room for that.

But right now, we must understand that half the country that voted for Trump is emboldened to deport all undocumented migrants, go after political enemies and punish anyone who isn’t MAGA.

This is no time to surrender and obey Trump.

It’s time to speak up on behalf of the most vulnerable. It’s time to stand up to bullies and fight for justice and our democratic ideal that makes this country great.

It’s a defining moment when each of us must show courage and integrity. Otherwise, will we stand for nothing?