Jonah Patel
Former US President Donald Trump has faced widespread criticism after calling for the termination of the US Constitution in a social media post. Trump claimed that the 2020 election was fraudulent and that the Constitution should be terminated to overturn the election results and reinstate him to power. This statement has been condemned by Republican lawmakers, White House officials, and members of his own party, who have described it as strange and extreme. Trump's comments have sparked concerns about his commitment to upholding the Constitution and the rule of law, with some suggesting that his statements could impact his potential 2024 presidential campaign.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Trump's call to terminate the Constitution | 3 December 2022 |
| Platform used | Truth Social |
| Reason for call to terminate | To overturn the 2020 election results and reinstate himself to power |
| Reason for 2020 election results being questioned | False claim of massive fraud |
| Trump's claim about the 2020 election | "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 claim about the Founding Fathers | "Our great 'Founders' did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections" |
| Trump's claim about the 2024 election | "I will support whoever the Republican nominee is." |
| Response from the White House | "You cannot only love America when you win." |
| Response from White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates | "The Constitution is the ultimate monument to all of the Americans who have given their lives to defeat self-serving despots that abused their power and trampled on fundamental rights. Attacking the Constitution and all it stands for is anathema to the soul of our nation and should be universally condemned." |
| Response from Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio | "Absolutely. [...] I vehemently disagree with the statement that Trump has made." |
| Response from Rep.-elect Mike Lawler, R-N.Y. | "Frankly, I think people are tired of looking backwards. [...] I think the former president would be well advised to focus on the future if he is going to run for president again." |
| Response from Incoming House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries | Trump's statement was "strange and extreme" |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's claims about election fraud
In December 2022, former US President Donald Trump faced backlash from both sides of the political aisle after calling for the "termination" of parts of the US Constitution. Trump made this statement on his Truth Social media platform in response to the claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him due to massive 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 'Founders' did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!".
This statement was described by incoming House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries as "strange and extreme". Jeffries added that Republicans would need to decide whether to continue embracing Trump's anti-democratic views. Several Republican lawmakers also criticised Trump's statement, with Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, saying he "vehemently disagrees" and "absolutely condemns" the remarks. Newly elected New York Republican Mike Lawler echoed similar sentiments, stating that Trump should focus on the future instead of the "grievances of prior elections".
Following Trump's victory in the 2024 election, claims of voter fraud on social media initially surged among his supporters and right-wing influencers. However, as Trump's win became clear, the volume of such claims decreased significantly. While some organisations and activists continued to spread debunked theories, the overall reach of these posts was much smaller than the deluge of content that circulated after Trump lost the 2020 election.
In conclusion, Trump's claims about election fraud have been a consistent feature of his political messaging. His statements have drawn widespread criticism and concern, with many viewing them as an attack on the democratic process and the integrity of US elections.
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Trump's Truth Social post
On Saturday, former President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform, calling for the termination of the US Constitution. In the post, Trump repeated the false claim that the 2020 election was marred by massive fraud perpetrated by big tech companies and the Democratic National Committee. He wrote:
> "Do you throw the Presidential Election Results of 2020 OUT and declare the RIGHTFUL WINNER, or do you have a NEW ELECTION? 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 'Founders' did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!"
Trump's post came after Twitter owner Elon Musk released internal emails showing the platform's decision to limit access to a news story about Hunter Biden's laptop just before the 2020 election. The post has sparked widespread criticism from both sides of the political aisle, with many condemning the former president's remarks. White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates responded to Trump, stating:
> "The Constitution is the ultimate monument to all of the Americans who have given their lives to defeat self-serving despots that abused their power and trampled on fundamental rights. Attacking the Constitution and all it stands for is anathema to the soul of our nation and should be universally condemned."
Trump's comments have also been denounced by Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, who said he "vehemently disagrees" with Trump's statement. Newly elected New York Republican Mike Lawler added that Trump's words could alienate him from some conservative voters, advising the former president to focus on the future if he intends to run again in 2024.
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Reactions from the White House
On Saturday, former US President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform that there had been "massive fraud" in the 2020 election, and called for the termination of the Constitution in order to overturn the election results. Trump's post came after internal Twitter emails were released, showing deliberation over a New York Post story about material found on Hunter Biden's laptop.
The White House responded to Trump's comments, saying:
> You cannot only love America when you win. 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 and should be universally condemned.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates made the above statement, adding that the Constitution is:
> [T]he ultimate monument to all of the Americans who have given their lives to defeat self-serving despots that abused their power and trampled on fundamental rights.
Reactions from Congress
Several members of Congress also responded to Trump's comments. 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. Newly elected New York Republican Mike Lawler said that Trump's comments would alienate him from some conservative voters, and that Trump should focus on the future. Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said he "vehemently" disagreed with and "absolutely" condemned the remarks, adding that they should be a factor in the Republican Party's decision-making process for 2024.
Reactions from Trump Supporters
Some Republicans refused to disavow Trump's comments. House Republican David Joyce, for example, refused to disavow Trump, saying that he would support whoever the Republican nominee is.
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Responses from Republican lawmakers
On Saturday, former US President Donald Trump called for the termination of the US Constitution in a post on his Truth Social media platform. Trump claimed that the 2020 election was stolen from him due to massive fraud, and that this allowed for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.
Several Republican lawmakers criticized Trump's statement. Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said he "'vehemently' disagrees" with Trump's statement and "absolutely" condemns it. Turner also warned that Trump's claims could hurt him in the 2024 election, as voters will take such statements into consideration when evaluating a candidate. Newly elected New York Republican Mike Lawler also objected to Trump's remarks, saying that Trump should focus on the future instead of the "grievances of prior elections." Lawler added that the Constitution is in place to protect the rights of every American. House Republican David Joyce refused to disavow Trump over his comment, stating that he will support whoever the Republican nominee is.
In addition to lawmakers, Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, an outspoken Trump critic, denounced the former president's statement. Cheney, who serves as vice chair of the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, tweeted that Trump's statement "was his view on 1/6 and remains his view today." She added that Trump is an "enemy of the Constitution."
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Trump's stance on the Constitution in 2025
In December 2022, former US President Donald Trump called for the termination of the US Constitution in a post on his Truth Social media platform. Trump alleged that there had been "massive fraud" in the 2020 election and called for the election results to be overturned. He wrote:
> "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 'Founders' did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!"
Trump's post was criticised by lawmakers from both parties, including Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, who described Trump's statement as "his view on 1/6 and remains his view today". Incoming House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries characterised Trump's statement as "strange and extreme". A White House spokesman responded to Trump, saying, "You cannot only love America when you win".
In May 2025, Trump gave a TV interview in which he said he did not know if he needed to uphold the US Constitution when it came to giving immigrants the right to due process. He said:
> "I don't know. I'm not, I'm not a lawyer. I don't know."
Trump has also expressed uncertainty about whether he is bound by the Constitution as he pursues his mass deportation strategy. He has acknowledged constitutional constraints preventing him from seeking a third term and has indicated that he plans to leave office at the end of his second term.
Based on the available information, it is unclear what Trump's exact stance on the Constitution will be in 2025. However, given his recent comments and his history of controversial statements, it is possible that he may continue to express skepticism or ambiguity about the Constitution's authority.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in 2022, Trump called for the termination of the Constitution in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Trump's statement was made in the context of his false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him due to massive fraud. He wrote, "Do you throw the Presidential Election Results of 2020 OUT and declare the RIGHTFUL WINNER, or do you have a NEW ELECTION? 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 widely condemned by politicians from both parties. Incoming House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries described the statement as "strange and extreme". Newly elected New York Republican Mike Lawler said that Trump's words would "alienate him from some conservative voters". White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates responded, "You cannot only love America when you win... Attacking the Constitution and all it stands for is anathema to the soul of our nation and should be universally condemned."
Yes, in a 2025 interview, Trump said he didn't know if he needed to uphold the US Constitution when it came to giving immigrants the right of due process. In 2022, he also faced criticism for having dinner with known Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes and for his continued association with Kanye West, who has made antisemitic remarks.
