Trump’s Delusions Reach Fever Pitch
FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | AUGUST 22, 2019
“In a week of unusual craziness by President Trump, including his anti-Semitic attacks on Jews and his messianic visions of being godlike, Trump has once again shown his disdain for the Constitution and the rule of law.”
In a week of unusual craziness by President Trump, including his anti-Semitic attacks on Jews and his messianic visions of being godlike, Trump has once again shown his disdain for the Constitution and the rule of law.
Given Trump’s recent statement that “I have the right to do whatever I want as President,” there is little reason to believe that Trump feels he is subject to any constitutional or legal constraints.
He demonstrated his delusional sense of absolute powers this week when he said that he was seriously considering ending automatic citizenship for anyone born in this country. Of course, this is a right provided by our Constitution and cannot be taken away by anyone, except by a constitutional amendment.
Trump’s proposed new rule to allow for the indefinite detention of migrant families is supposed to take effect in 60 days, except that there is a consent decree entered into by the government that prevents this rule, including preventing indefinite holding of migrants.
Trump mused this week about serving more than two terms. But instead of ignoring the 22nd Amendment that limits a president to serving more than two terms, Trump should start paying closer attention to another constitutional amendment, the 25th, which provides a process for removing a president for disability.
__________
Fred Wertheimer is the Founder and President of Democracy 21, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to strengthen our democracy and ensure the integrity and fairness of government decisions and elections. See previous Notes from Fred here.
