Jonah Patel
In December 2022, former US President Donald Trump suggested that the termination of all rules...even those found in the Constitution was merited, as he continued to push the false claim that he lost the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud. Trump's comments were widely criticized by both Democrats and top-ranking Republicans, who denounced them as strange and extreme and an attack on the Constitution. Trump later attempted to walk back his statement, calling the media characterization disinformation and lies. Despite this, some have alleged that Trump's plans for government, if elected, include the termination of the Constitution, and his actions as President have been described as a direct assault on the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | December 2022 |
| Reason | Trump's unfounded claim that he lost the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud |
| Trump's 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" |
| Trump's statement (continued) | "Our great 'Founder' did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!" |
| Response | Widely criticized, including by top-ranking Republicans such as Texas Senator Ted Cruz |
| Response (continued) | Denounced by the White House |
| Response (continued) | Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said he "vehemently" disagrees and "absolutely" condemns the remarks |
| Response (continued) | Rep.-elect Mike Lawler, R-New York, objected to the remarks, saying it was time to stop focusing on the "grievances of prior elections" |
| Trump's response | Trump later attempted to walk back his statement, writing via Truth Social on December 5 that "The Fake News is actually trying to convince the American People that I said I wanted to 'terminate' the Constitution. This is simply more DISINFORMATION & LIES." |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's suggestion to 'terminate' the Constitution
In December 2022, former US President Donald Trump suggested that the "termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution" was justified. This was in reference to his baseless claim that he lost the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud. Trump's exact words were:
> "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 widely criticized by both Democrats and top-ranking Republicans, including Texas Senator Ted Cruz. The White House denounced the post, and then-Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy was asked to intervene. Trump later attempted to walk back his statement, calling the media characterization of his comments as "disinformation and lies".
Trump's suggestion to terminate the Constitution is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of behaviour that has been described as a direct assault on the Constitution. This includes his defiance of the judiciary and constitutional system, undermining First Amendment freedoms, targeting law firms, universities, and the press, impounding federal funds authorized by Congress, eroding immigrant rights, and consolidating power.
Trump's actions and statements have led to concerns that he is seeking to reshape the United States by systematically erasing and distorting the historical underpinnings of its democracy and the rule of law. His disregard for the Constitution and statutes has been interpreted as a bid for increased presidential power, which could potentially undermine the constitutional separation of powers and create a quasi-authoritarian state.
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Trump's baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election
In 2020, Donald Trump lost the US presidential election to Joe Biden. However, Trump refused to concede, alleging widespread and unparalleled voter fraud. He and other Republicans publicly questioned Biden's victory, claiming that millions of fraudulent ballots were cast, voting machines were manipulated, and thousands of votes were recorded for dead people. Trump's supporters deployed several statistical arguments in an attempt to cast doubt on the election result.
One focus of the Trump team's accusations was the processing of absentee ballots in key states narrowly won by Biden, including Fulton County, Georgia, and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. They alleged that these counties were major centers of voter fraud in the 2020 election, but the evidence provided was largely based on hearsay affidavits or debunked videos. Trump also claimed that "large amounts of mail-in and absentee ballots were processed illegally and in secret in Philadelphia and Allegheny County without our observers present." However, no one tried to ban poll watchers, and Democrats did not try to prevent Republican representatives from observing the process.
Trump's claims were fact-checked and found to be false and baseless. Multiple sources, including members of his own administration, such as Attorney General William Barr, and courts in multiple battleground states, stated that no proof of widespread voter fraud had been found. Despite this, millions of Americans apparently believed Trump's allegations, and his baseless claims undermined public faith in the integrity of US elections.
In December 2022, Trump continued to push the false claim that he lost the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud, suggesting that the "termination of all rules... even those found in the Constitution" was merited. This statement was denounced by the White House and other Republicans, including Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio and Rep.-elect Mike Lawler, who objected to the remarks and urged Trump to focus on the future. Trump later attempted to walk back his statement, claiming that the media had misinterpreted his words and that he was referring to the need to take immediate action in response to the alleged fraud.
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Trump's attempts to walk back his comments
In December 2022, while pushing the false claim that he lost the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud, Trump suggested that the "termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution" was merited. Trump wrote on Truth Social:
> "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 comments were widely criticized, including by top-ranking Republicans such as Texas Senator Ted Cruz, and the White House denounced them. Trump later attempted to walk back his statement, writing via Truth Social:
> "The Fake News is actually trying to convince the American People that I said I wanted to 'terminate' the Constitution. This is simply more DISINFORMATION & LIES. What I said was that when there is 'MASSIVE & WIDESPREAD FRAUD & DECEPTION,' as has been irrefutably proven in the 2020 Presidential Election, steps must be immediately taken to RIGHT THE WRONG."
Trump's clarification did little to stem the tide of criticism. Incoming House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries described Trump's statement as "strange and extreme," and said that Republicans would have to choose whether to continue embracing Trump's anti-democratic views. 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-New York, also objected to the remarks, saying that it was time to stop focusing on the "grievances of prior elections."
Trump's comments in December 2022 were not the first time he has been accused of attempting to undermine the Constitution. In March 2025, less than seven weeks into his second term as president, Trump's administration deported more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants to a notorious prison in El Salvador without hearings or evidence, and thus without anything resembling due process of law. Trump invoked a 1798 statute last used to intern Japanese Americans during World War II, buttressed by powers he claimed were inherent in the presidency. This action led to concerns that the US had entered a constitutional crisis.
Additionally, in April 2025, Trump declared that his government would no longer treat US-born children of undocumented immigrants or children of lawful, temporary immigrants as citizens, as the 14th Amendment commands. This executive order on birthright citizenship was followed by the revocation of visas, the detention of foreign students, and wrongful deportations. Legal scholars have expressed concern about Trump's disregard for the Constitution and the rule of law, with some characterizing his presidency as "lawless."
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Trump's disregard for the rule of law
Trump's actions as president have also demonstrated a pattern of disregarding the rule of law. In his first hours back as president, he directly assaulted the Constitution by declaring that his government would no longer treat US-born children of undocumented immigrants as citizens, as commanded by the 14th Amendment. This was followed by a series of unlawful actions, including the revocation of visas, the detention of foreign students, and the wrongful deportation of a US resident to a Salvadoran prison, refusing to extricate him even in the face of court orders.
Trump has also targeted civil society, including law firms, universities, and the press, and has sought to consolidate power by impounding federal funds authorized by Congress and eroding immigrant rights. His administration's hasty deportation of over 200 Venezuelan immigrants without hearings or evidence has been described as a "constitutional crisis," with Trump invoking a 1798 statute last used to intern Japanese Americans during World War II.
Trump's actions and statements reveal a consistent disregard for the rule of law and the Constitution. His attempts to justify his actions by claiming widespread voter fraud and his pursuit of increased presidential power indicate a potential undermining of the constitutional separation of powers and a slide towards authoritarianism. The rapid collapse of the constitutional system under Trump's presidency has alarmed observers, who worry about the future of democracy in the United States.
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Trump's erosion of immigrant rights
While Donald Trump has never explicitly stated that he wants to get rid of the US Constitution, he has made comments that suggest he supports the idea. In December 2022, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden, was a "massive fraud" that allowed for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution. This statement was denounced by the White House and other Republicans, including Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio and Rep.-elect Mike Lawler, who said that Trump's comments should be considered when evaluating him as a candidate. Trump later attempted to walk back his statement, claiming that the media had twisted his words.
Trump's controversial comments about the Constitution reflect a broader pattern of statements and actions that have raised concerns about his commitment to democratic norms and the rule of law. This includes his refusal to concede the 2020 election, his attempts to overturn the election results, and his consideration of running for a third term as president, which would violate the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.
Now, moving on to the topic of Trump's erosion of immigrant rights, his administration has taken a hardline approach to immigration, with a focus on aggressive enforcement and mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. Trump has targeted law firms working on unpopular causes and cast doubt on the ability to provide due process for those facing removal proceedings. The administration has also eliminated restrictions on raids in "sensitive locations," such as schools, places of worship, and hospitals, previously considered safe spaces for immigrants.
Trump's immigration policies have stoked fear in immigrant communities, with experts arguing that his administration's actions weaken the already limited due process rights of immigrants. The firing of immigration judges and the drying up of funds for legal services further contribute to the erosion of immigrant rights. The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly sent to a prison in El Salvador, highlights the potential consequences of the administration's actions.
Trump's approach to immigration has also shifted the broader enforcement landscape, with ICE and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) now taking a more punitive and dehumanizing approach. This shift has resulted in the erosion of fundamental civil liberties for undocumented immigrants and has had a significant impact on immigrant communities across the country.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in December 2022, Trump suggested that the "termination of all rules...even those found in the Constitution" was merited. He made this statement while pushing the false claim that he lost the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud.
Trump's comments were widely criticized by both Democrats and top-ranking Republicans. The White House denounced the statement and called on then-House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to intervene. Incoming House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries described Trump's statement as "strange and extreme." 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 the Constitution was an extraordinary reflection of his desire to maintain power. It was not an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern of behavior that included violating democratic traditions, attempting to overturn the 2020 election, and issuing executive orders that challenged the Constitution. Legal scholars and commentators have characterized Trump's presidency as "lawless" and a threat to the rule of law and liberal democratic values.
Yes, in March 2025, Trump indicated that he was considering running for a third term as president, which would require breaching a constitutional barrier. He also made statements and took actions during his presidency that were seen as assaults on the Constitution, such as his administration's revocation of visas, the detention of foreign students, and the wrongful deportation of individuals.
