Jonah Patel
Former US President Donald Trump has been criticized for his comments on the suspension or termination of the US Constitution. In December 2022, Trump suggested that the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution was justified due to his baseless claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. Trump's remarks were denounced by politicians and officials from both parties, including White House spokesperson Andrew Bates, who emphasized the sanctity of the American Constitution. Despite facing backlash, Trump has continued to push the narrative of a stolen election, and his statements have raised concerns about his authoritarian tendencies and potential threats to liberal democracy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 3rd December 2022 |
| Platform | Truth Social |
| Reason | False claim that he lost the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud |
| Statement | "A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution." |
| Statement | "Our great 'Founder' did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!" |
| Response | Rebuked by officials in both parties |
| Response | White House spokesman Andrew Bates: "The American Constitution is a sacrosanct document that for over 200 years has guaranteed that freedom and the rule of law prevail in our great country. Attacking the Constitution and all it stands for is anathema to the soul of our nation." |
| Response | Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee: "I [...] condemn the remarks [...] I believe that people certainly are going to take into consideration a statement like this as they evaluate a candidate." |
| Response | Rep.-elect Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.: "The Constitution is set for a reason, to protect the rights of every American. I think the former president would be well-advised to focus on the future, if he is going to run for president again." |
| Response | Incoming House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries described Trump’s statement as "strange and extreme" |
| Response | Chris Christie: "Donald Trump said it is okay to suspend the Constitution. [...] I will always stand up for our constitution regardless of political pressure." |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's authoritarianism and anti-democratic views
In December 2022, former US President Donald Trump called for the "'termination' of parts of the US Constitution. Trump's statement was in response to his baseless claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him due to widespread voter fraud. Trump wrote on his Truth Social media platform:
> "A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution. Our great 'Founder' did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!"
Trump's statement was rebuked by officials from both parties, including the White House, which released a statement saying:
> "The American Constitution is a sacrosanct document that for over 200 years has guaranteed that freedom and the rule of law prevail in our great country. Attacking the Constitution and all it stands for is anathema to the soul of our nation."
Trump's comments were also condemned by Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, who said he "vehemently" disagreed with the remarks. Incoming House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries described Trump's statement as "strange and extreme", further asserting that Trump's views are "anti-democratic". Jeffries added that Republicans would need to decide whether to continue embracing Trump's anti-democratic views.
Trump's call for the termination of parts of the Constitution is not an isolated incident but rather a reflection of his authoritarianism and anti-democratic views. Trump has a history of equating opposition or any deviation from his goals with illegality. He has labelled as criminals all three of his electoral opponents, media organizations, and individuals who have publicly criticized or disagreed with him. Trump's administration has also vilified the judiciary, making irresponsible calls for impeachment and targeting judges who rule against them.
Trump's authoritarian tendencies have been evident since his first term, but they have become more pronounced in his second term. He has pursued a trade war and taken actions that indicate a war on liberal democracy, such as deporting Venezuelan immigrants to a notorious prison in El Salvador without due process. Trump has also seized the power to arrest any person and send them to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center, where they can be held indefinitely without trial and denied the protections of American law. These actions indicate a disregard for the constraints that democracies place upon elected leaders and a willingness to abuse the power of the presidency to violate the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
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Trump's contempt for liberal democracy
In December 2022, former US President Donald Trump called for the "termination" of parts of the US Constitution, citing false claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. Trump's statement was denounced by the White House and members of both parties, including prominent Republicans. This incident is indicative of Trump's contempt for liberal democracy and his tendency to equate opposition with illegality.
Trump's disdain for liberal democratic principles has been a consistent theme during his political career. He has labelled his electoral opponents, media organizations, and critics as "criminals". Additionally, he has a history of attacking the legitimacy of electoral and judicial proceedings that go against him. Trump's authoritarian tendencies have been a cause for concern, with critics arguing that he seeks to erode the very foundations of the US constitutional system.
Trump's controversial relationship with the US Constitution is further exemplified by his administration's cavalier attitude towards the courts. They have vilified the judiciary and made irresponsible calls for impeachment when rulings do not align with their agenda. This has resulted in a dangerous climate of hostility towards judges who rule against them.
Furthermore, Trump's ploys to seize power and disregard legal protections have been alarming. For instance, he exploited a loophole to arrest individuals and send them to El Salvador without due process, denying them the protections of American law.
In conclusion, Donald Trump's call for the termination of parts of the Constitution is a clear manifestation of his contempt for liberal democracy. His actions and statements reveal a consistent pattern of disregarding democratic norms, attacking opposition, and consolidating power. The implications of Trump's post-liberal ideology and authoritarian tendencies have serious consequences for the future of American democracy.
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Trump's disregard for the US judiciary
In December 2022, former US President Donald Trump called for the "termination" of parts of the US Constitution, claiming that the 2020 election was stolen from him due to widespread voter fraud. Trump wrote on his Truth Social media platform:
> "A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution... Our great 'Founder' did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!"
Trump's statement was denounced by the White House and members of both parties, including Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, and Rep.-elect Mike Lawler, R-N.Y. Incoming House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries described Trump's statement as "strange and extreme", urging Republicans to decide whether to continue embracing Trump's anti-democratic views.
Trump's administration has been characterized by illiberalism, with the former president gravitating towards despots and refusing to accept the legitimacy of any electoral or judicial proceeding that goes against him. His authoritarianism and personal contempt for liberal democracy have been augmented by a growing school of "post-liberal" thought on the right, which believes that the left poses an existential threat to American society. Trump's critics argue that his actions and statements have contributed to an alarming collapse of the values enshrined in the US Constitution.
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Trump's false claims about the 2020 election
Former US President Donald Trump has made numerous false claims about the 2020 election, which have been fact-checked and debunked by various news outlets and fact-checking organisations. One of his most persistent falsehoods is that he won the 2020 election instead of Joe Biden. Trump prematurely declared victory in the presidential race, despite Biden receiving more electoral votes. Trump's claims of a "rigged" election have been widely discredited, with federal agencies, state election officials, and technology experts affirming that the 2020 election was among the most secure in American history.
Trump has repeatedly alleged voter fraud, claiming that mail-in ballots, non-citizen voting, and a vast interstate conspiracy orchestrated by the Democratic Party led to his defeat. He has criticised states like California for sending ballots to all registered voters, despite safeguards in place to prevent fraud. Trump has also made unsubstantiated claims about "ballot dumps" in key states, asserting that battleground states deliberately stalled vote tabulation to favour Biden. However, there is no evidence to support this accusation, and officials have confirmed that ballot counting processes were secure and lawful.
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Trump's response to criticism of his comments
Trump's comments on the termination of the Constitution were met with widespread criticism and condemnation from officials and politicians across the political spectrum, including from his own Republican Party.
In response to the backlash, Trump attempted to walk back his statement, claiming that the media was spreading disinformation and lies about his comments. He denied calling for the termination of the Constitution and instead asserted that he was referring to the need to take immediate action in response to the alleged massive fraud and deception in the 2020 presidential election. Trump's clarification was posted on his Truth Social media platform on December 5, 2022, two days after his initial controversial statement.
Trump's initial statement, made on December 3, 2022, suggested that the "'termination' of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution," was justified due to the alleged widespread fraud in the 2020 election. This prompted strong reactions from both sides of the political aisle, with many viewing it as an attack on the foundation of American democracy.
Despite the criticism, Trump stood by his claim that the 2020 election was stolen, a notion that has been consistently rebuked and labeled as false by various fact-checking organizations and election officials. Trump's refusal to accept the legitimacy of the election results and his controversial statements about the Constitution fueled concerns about his commitment to democratic norms and the potential erosion of Americans' constitutional rights.
Trump's response to the criticism, however, did little to assuage the worries of many. His tendency to equate opposition with illegality and his authoritarian leanings, as demonstrated by his actions during his presidency, underscored the seriousness of the concerns surrounding his statements.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in December 2022, Donald Trump called for the termination of parts of the Constitution. This was in response to his baseless claim that he lost the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud.
The White House spokesman Andrew Bates responded to Trump's comments, saying, "You cannot only love America when you win." He further added, "The American Constitution is a sacrosanct document that for over 200 years has guaranteed that freedom and the rule of law prevail in our great country. Attacking the Constitution and all it stands for is anathema to the soul of our nation."
Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said he "vehemently" disagreed and "absolutely" condemned the remarks. Rep.-elect Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., also objected to the remarks, stating that the Constitution is set to protect the rights of every American.
Yes, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie criticized Trump during the first GOP primary debate in 2024. Christie said that Trump proposed suspending the Constitution and that he would always stand up for the Constitution regardless of political pressure.
