The only real threat to the American elite today is losing their money.  Losing their money promptly removes them from the ranks of the elite.

The government, media and the people are all potential threats to the elite in a functioning democracy.

However government is today more responsible to the money of the elite rather than the people.  So government has not been a threat.

The media is no longer the media but just another business chasing dollars and profits.  Hounding the elite is not as profitable as providing entertainment targeting the easily manipulated. The media has forgotten its purpose.

In a functioning democracy, the people can challenge the elite through their government or as a physical threat.  However through the power of their money, the elite have purchased the government as their shield and sword against the people.  The government, in every nook and cranny of society and expanding, has immense police powers which makes challenging the status quo purely a voting matter.  The government does not fear the people.  Thus the people have been neutralized from challenging the elite.  

IMO, it will take another severe economic collapse to mobilize the necessary mass of angry people required to generate enough fear in government to challenge the elite.  I believe too many politicians of both parties are owned by the elite for change to take place regardless of the president or his intent.  I believe change will only come from the people and only in conjunction with a shock and awe situation.

The process of elite control of government has gone on too long.  They are now entrenched. At the national level, we no longer have a functioning democracy.  Only immense pain might produce real change, IMO.  Unfortunately those sort of times are just as likely to produce a Hitler as a Roosevelt.