Isabella Carter
Former US President Donald Trump faced criticism from both sides of the political spectrum after suggesting the termination of parts of the US Constitution. Trump's comments were made in the context of his false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him due to widespread voter fraud. In a post on his Truth Social media platform, Trump wrote that a massive fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution. Trump's statement was denounced by many as extreme and anti-democratic, sparking concerns about his potential return to the presidency and the future of the Republican Party.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | December 3, 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 called the Constitution a "sacrosanct document" |
| Response | Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said he "vehemently" disagrees and "absolutely" condemns the remarks |
| Response | Rep.-elect Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., objected to the remarks, saying Trump should focus on the future |
| Response | Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie paraphrased Trump's argument as a call to suspend the Constitution |
| Response | Trump later attempted to walk back his statement, calling it "DISINFORMATION & LIES" |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's call for 'termination' of the Constitution
In December 2022, former US President Donald Trump called for the "termination" of parts of the US Constitution. This came in the wake of his continued claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him due to widespread voter fraud, which has been proven to be false.
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, with spokesman Andrew Bates 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 rebuked by officials from both parties. Incoming House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries described the statement as "strange and extreme", while Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said he "vehemently" disagreed and "absolutely" condemned the remarks.
Trump's suggestion to terminate parts of the Constitution is not the first time he has been accused of attempting to undermine the foundational document of the US. During his time in office, Trump was criticised for his administration's cavalier attitude towards the courts and for seizing the power to arrest any person and send them to El Salvador to be held indefinitely without trial. Trump has also been known to equate opposition with illegality, labelling his electoral opponents and critics as criminals.
Overall, Trump's call for the termination of parts of the Constitution has been seen as a threat to the democratic values and principles that underpin the US political system.
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Trump's claims of election fraud
In the lead-up to the 2020 US election, Donald Trump and his supporters made several claims of voter fraud. These included allegations that Dominion voting machines were switching votes from Trump to Biden, suspiciously high turnouts in Democratic strongholds, and the supposedly inexplicable failure of Biden to win "bellwether counties". Trump also criticised California, falsely claiming that the state sent seven ballots to every voter.
After Biden's victory, Trump refused to concede, alleging widespread and unparalleled voter fraud. He and his supporters deployed several statistical arguments to cast doubt on the result. One such argument was that there was a ""one-in-a-quadrillion" chance that Biden legitimately won the election. This claim was based on an expert report submitted as part of a lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which alleged that the outcome of the election was ""statistically improbable" and could only be explained by fraud and biased changes in the ways ballots were processed, validated, and tabulated. However, this assertion was refuted by statistical reasoning and original data analysis, which found no evidence of systematic voter fraud.
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Trump's criticism of the American court system
Former US President Donald Trump has been criticized for his attacks on the American court system. Trump has made a series of tweets and public statements attacking individual judges, questioning the authority of federal courts to review his orders, and suggesting that the court system would be to blame for future terrorist attacks.
In one instance, following a terrorist attack in London, Trump tweeted:
> "We're also taking decisive action to improve our vetting procedures. The courts are not helping us I have to be honest. It's ridiculous. Somebody said I should not criticize judges, Okay, I'll criticize judges. To keep criminals and terrorists the hell out of our country, we are keeping these promises and many, many more."
Trump has also targeted US Supreme Court Justices, Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, demanding that they recuse themselves from any cases that he is involved in. In addition, he has questioned the constitutional authority of the judiciary and has suggested that the "termination" of parts of the Constitution is justified due to his false belief that the 2020 election was stolen.
Trump's rhetoric has been described as "designed to intimidate the judiciary" and has led to increased threats of violence and professional retaliation against judges. His comments have been condemned by Supreme Court Justices, politicians from both parties, and legal experts.
Trump's administration has also been criticized for its handling of judicial decisions. In one instance, a New York state court held President Trump in civil contempt and fined him $110,000 for failing to comply with a court order. Additionally, the Trump administration's use of a constitutional loophole to arrest and detain people without due process has been described as a "frightening power grab."
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The Republican Party's response to Trump's call
In December 2022, former US President Donald Trump called for the "termination" of parts of the Constitution, claiming that the 2020 election was stolen from him due to widespread voter fraud. Trump's comments were met with swift backlash from both sides of the political aisle, including prominent members of the Republican Party.
Some Republican officials, such as Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, vehemently disagreed and condemned Trump's statements. Turner stated that Trump's comments should be considered when deciding who should lead the Republican Party in 2024. Similarly, Rep.-elect Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., objected to Trump's remarks, emphasizing the importance of the Constitution in protecting the rights of Americans. He advised Trump to focus on the future if he intends to run for president again.
On the other hand, some Republican candidates in the 2024 election avoided criticizing Trump during the first GOP primary debate, with the notable exception of former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who received jeers from the crowd and rebuke from his fellow candidate Vivek Ramaswamy for attacking Trump. Christie stated that Trump proposed suspending the Constitution and emphasized his commitment to defending it regardless of political pressure.
The White House also denounced Trump's comments, with spokesman Andrew Bates asserting that the American Constitution is a sacrosanct document that guarantees freedom and the rule of law. He added that attacking the Constitution is anathema to the soul of the nation.
In conclusion, while there have been some notable Republican voices speaking out against Trump's call for suspension of the Constitution, the overall response from the party has been varied, with some members remaining silent or even supportive of his claims. This incident highlights the ongoing internal debate within the Republican Party regarding Trump's influence and the direction of the party's leadership.
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Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election results
In the aftermath of the 2020 United States presidential election, then-incumbent president Donald Trump refused to concede and embarked on an unprecedented campaign to overturn the election results. Trump and his supporters propagated the "big lie" that the election had been stolen from him due to widespread voter fraud, rigged voting machines, and an international conspiracy. This claim was repeatedly proven false, and conspiracy theories were dismissed by multiple government officials and even some members of his campaign staff.
Trump's attempts to overturn the election results took several forms. He pressured state legislators in Michigan, Arizona, and Pennsylvania to ignore the popular vote outcome and appoint fake electors. He also enlisted a private attorney, Kurt Olsen, to propose a legal challenge to the election results, which was resisted by Acting Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen and his deputy, Richard Donoghue. Trump even considered invoking martial law to invalidate the election results, which would have been illegal and unconstitutional.
Trump's efforts to subvert the election results culminated in the January 6 Capitol attack by his supporters, who sought to prevent the certification of Joe Biden's electoral victory. This led to Trump becoming the only US president to be impeached twice, with the House charging him with "incitement of insurrection."
Trump has continued to insist that the election was stolen, even after leaving office. In December 2022, he suggested that the "termination" of parts of the Constitution was justified due to the alleged fraud in the 2020 election. This statement was widely condemned by politicians and the media from both parties, with many denouncing it as an attack on the foundations of American democracy. Despite the backlash, Trump has not retracted his statement and continues to push false claims about election fraud.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in December 2022, Trump called for the "termination" of parts of the Constitution.
Trump made the statement on his Truth Social media platform while pushing the false claim that he lost the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud.
Trump's statement was widely condemned by officials and politicians from both parties, including Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio and Rep.-elect Mike Lawler. The White House also assailed Trump, emphasizing the sanctity of the American Constitution.
While there is no information on formal consequences, Trump faced significant backlash and rebuke for his statement. There were calls for intervention and for Republicans to distance themselves from Trump and his anti-democratic views.
Yes, Trump has a history of equating opposition with illegality and has labeled his critics as criminals. He has also been accused of attempting to overturn the 2020 election results and erode the independence of the judiciary.
