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Maddowblog-On using U.S. might, Trump says he's constrained by his 'morality,' not international law
If the president doesn’t like being referred to as a “dictator,” he’s going to have stop talking and acting like one.
Link to tweet
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/on-using-u-s-might-trump-says-hes-constrained-by-his-morality-not-international-law
Donald Trump apparently doesn’t like being referred to as a “dictator.” As recently as Tuesday, the president was whining to House Republicans, “They always call me a dictator.”
It’s an odd thing for him to complain about, especially because, as a candidate in 2024, Trump more than once talked about creating a temporary American “dictatorship” that he wanted to lead. Nevertheless, one day after making the complaint, the president sounded quite dictatorial in his beliefs about the scope of his powers in a lengthy interview with The New York Times. The newspaper reported:
As part of the same exchange, the Republican said he doesn’t “need” international law. Pressed on whether he believes his administration must abide by international law, Trump said, “I do,” before adding, “It depends what your definition of international law is.”.....
Around the time of the “No Kings” protests, the president and his team didn’t merely smear American protesters, they also questioned the underlying premise of the protests. It’s one thing to disagree with Trump, they suggested, but it was preposterous hyperbole to suggest he was acting like some kind of authoritarian monarch.
Except that the Republican periodically abandons all subtlety and subtext and chooses instead to admit (in not so many words) that his critics are correct. He promotes images of himself in a crown. He makes Napoleonic declarations such as “he who saves his country violates no law.” He talks about “terminating” parts of the Constitution that stand in the way of his ambitions — and he freely admits that he believes (what remains of) his alleged conscience is “the only thing that can stop me.”
The next time Republicans express outrage that Trump’s detractors are calling him an “authoritarian,” keep this in mind.
It’s an odd thing for him to complain about, especially because, as a candidate in 2024, Trump more than once talked about creating a temporary American “dictatorship” that he wanted to lead. Nevertheless, one day after making the complaint, the president sounded quite dictatorial in his beliefs about the scope of his powers in a lengthy interview with The New York Times. The newspaper reported:
President Trump declared on Wednesday evening that his power as commander in chief is constrained only by his ‘own morality,’ brushing aside international law and other checks on his ability to use military might to strike, invade or coerce nations around the world.
Asked in a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times if there were any limits on his global powers, Mr. Trump said: ‘Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.’
As part of the same exchange, the Republican said he doesn’t “need” international law. Pressed on whether he believes his administration must abide by international law, Trump said, “I do,” before adding, “It depends what your definition of international law is.”.....
Around the time of the “No Kings” protests, the president and his team didn’t merely smear American protesters, they also questioned the underlying premise of the protests. It’s one thing to disagree with Trump, they suggested, but it was preposterous hyperbole to suggest he was acting like some kind of authoritarian monarch.
Except that the Republican periodically abandons all subtlety and subtext and chooses instead to admit (in not so many words) that his critics are correct. He promotes images of himself in a crown. He makes Napoleonic declarations such as “he who saves his country violates no law.” He talks about “terminating” parts of the Constitution that stand in the way of his ambitions — and he freely admits that he believes (what remains of) his alleged conscience is “the only thing that can stop me.”
The next time Republicans express outrage that Trump’s detractors are calling him an “authoritarian,” keep this in mind.