Donald Trump: An “enemy to the Constitution”©

Donald Trump: An “enemy to the Constitution”© 

Updated: Thursday, 20 July 2023

I oppose Donald Trump’s nomination and election as President because rather than defending the Constitution of the United States, he is a threat to it. He thinks his belief in a stolen election justifies “terminating” unnamed provisions of the Constitution and he opposes “birthright citizenship” allowed by the 14th Amendment which he thinks he can do away with by an executive order. His ignorance about the Constitution, constitutional issues, and of his authority relative to the Constitution is not flattering to him. Given his great influence with scores of millions in his base, his naiveté and hubris relative to the Constitution are extremely dangerous for the future of Democracy.

On Saturday, 3 December 2022, Donald Trump posted the following on his “Truth Social” media network:

“Do you throw the Presidential Election Results of 2020 OUT and declare the RIGHTFUL WINNER, or do you have a NEW ELECTION? A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.” [Emphasis added.]

This extreme statement is one of the most damning things he has ever said publicly, because his sworn duty is to protect the Constitution not terminate it. If I were a political opponent this would be front and center in my campaign against him.  

Though this may be hyperbole–two days later he denied he wanted to terminate the constitution, however, he apparently did not delete the post– he either does not understand the meaning of his own words, or they have some other meaning which was poorly expressed, or responding to negative reaction he lied about his true feelings. Trending evidence for the last six years favors the latter. At the very least, this is not a ringing stellar endorsement and defense of the Constitution that should come from a wannabe President.

I agree wholeheartedly with Liz Cheney who tweeted the next day:

Donald Trump believes we should terminate “all rules, regulations and articles, even those found in the Constitution” to overturn the 2020 election.That was his view on 1/6 and remains his view today. No honest person can now deny that Trump is an enemy of the Constitution.” [Emphasis added.]

In addition, Trump’s recent resurrection of his earlier opposition to the “birthright citizenship” provision in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which he promises to abolish with an executive order on the first day of his second administration, is equally as fanciful and equally dangerous for the same reasons stated above.

The most important point:  We already know the former President cannot be trusted to keep the oath which President’s swear on inauguration day. Why would anyone who loves America and believes in the sanctity of the Constitution, ever give him another chance to further denigrate and erode, indeed, to threaten that sacred document, the freedoms it enshrines, and the democratic government it provides?

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Update 20 July 2023: On Monday, 17 July, the New York Times published an article which was picked up by USA Today, which is absolutely consistent with my arguments in this blog.  I don’t have access to the Times article because I do not have a subscription, but the USA Today article called the former, “bone-chilling for anyone who cherishes our freedom, democracy and constitutional governance.”  It was published with cooperation of Trump’s presidential campaign and it outlines his plans to “eliminate executive branch constraints on his power if he is elected president in 2024.”  USA Today cited Trump as saying in 2019, “I have the right to do whatever I want as president.” 

I have believed that is his belief and objective from day one and that it why I have never voted for him and never will.  There is no doubt in my mind Donald Trump would like to be a dictator and he is willing to destroy our Constitution, along with the political form of government and the rights and freedoms it bequeaths us.

See:  Austin Sarat and Dennis Aftergut, “Is American on the brink of tyranny?  Trump’s plan if elected in 2024 should frighten us all.”  USA Today, 20 July 2023.

See also this like-minded piece:  Bess Levin, "Trump Makes It Clear He'd Be and Out and Out Dictator If Reelected in 2024," Vanity Fair, 31 January 2022.

Let’s think together again, soon.