How was he able to do that? How does he have so much more power than democratic presidents?

Dems and the Dem base run on the idea of an actual government with laws and standards. Dems sometimes violate those laws, but with plausible deniability in the vein of lawyers.

The GOP and the GOP base runs on the idea that hurting people is the highest good, and that laws are just a means to an end. They used to have more of the "lawyerly plausible deniability" strain about them, but Trump and his ghoulish following have dispensed with that, as they're convinced that laws are a secret liberal plot to stop America from becoming a White Man's Country once again.

Basically, the GOP doesn't give a fuck about all the rules the Dems follow, and the GOP base won't electorally punish them for it, because the GOP base is made of fascists.

Three things.

1. Trump is doing a lot of things that are technically within his powers as long as there is an emergency. Trump is declaring everything an emergency.

2. A lot of what Trump is doing is trying to tear down parts if the executive branch. The only real recourse to that is an active Congress, but the House and Senate are governed by his party and can choose not to act while the President tears down everything.

3. A lot of what Trump is trying to do is unconstitutional, but he's got a neutered Supreme Court and would probably quote President Jackson if the Court consistently ruled against Trump.

Because half the shit he's doing is illegal and 46 would not break the law so fragrantly and repeatedly, and when shot down he listened to the courts.

Republicans have control of every branch.

Because after Trump's first term, including the failed coup, when nothing happened to them, the republicans came to a startling realization: no matter what they do there are no consequences, because the democrats refuse to enforce any.

For decades they've worked to be either technically within the law, or carefully over the line in ways that are both deniable and difficult to prosecute. But during Trump's first term, it became apparent they don't need to do that anymore. They can do whatever the fuck they want and no one will impose any consequences. Even if someone stops them in the moment, they just get to try again.

And it's all because democrats are too concerned with decorum and looking polite.

So why can't democrats do the same? Cause you bet your britches the republicans will hold them to account if they start doing whatever they want. Republicans would love that. They would be thrilled to lock up most of the democrats. But given the opportunity and very real justification for doing so, the democrats just...didn't do it to the republicans.