Malcolm Rivera
President Donald Trump has been accused of undermining the US Constitution and assaulting the country's structural constitutional framework. Trump's actions have included issuing executive orders targeting law firms, threatening judges, politicising independent agencies, misusing military resources, and illegally reprogramming federal funds. He has also been criticised for his stance on immigration, with some arguing that his deportation policies violate the Constitution by denying due process to immigrants. Trump's administration has also been accused of attacking human rights bodies and undermining ratified human rights treaties, leading to concerns about the erosion of constitutional safeguards and the rule of law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Issuing pardons to violent criminals | Pardoned 1,500 violent insurrectionists |
| Attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs | DEI programs are important tools to promote equality of treatment |
| Unlawful transfer of a Salvadoran national to his home country | Kilmar Abrego Garcia |
| Deporting immigrants to El Salvador | Circumstances amount to enforced disappearance |
| Removing asylum seekers to Panama and Costa Rica | Violation of international law |
| Attacking the right to freedom of speech and assembly | Arbitrarily detaining and seeking to deport noncitizens because of their activism related to Palestine |
| Ending US foreign aid programs | Puts many people in life-threatening peril |
| Issuing an executive order on birthright citizenship | Denying status to the US-born children of undocumented immigrants |
| Signing executive orders targeting specific law firms | Issued executive orders targeting specific law firms against which he holds personal grudges |
| Misusing the military | Used the military for his own domestic political purposes |
| Illegally reprogramming federal funds | Illegally reprogrammed federal funds to achieve his own policy objectives |
| Politicizing independent agencies | Politicized independent agencies for his own ends |
| Firing public servants | Fired career civil servants without cause |
| Dissolving federal agencies | Dissolved federal agencies |
| Taking taxpayer money from communities | Took taxpayer money from communities |
Explore related products
$9.99 $9.99
What You'll Learn
Trump's disregard for the separation of powers
Former US President Donald Trump has been accused of assaulting the country's constitutional structures of government. From his public criticism of the "deep state" to his disparagement of sitting federal judges, Trump has consistently attacked the structures of government.
One of the most prominent examples of Trump's disregard for the separation of powers is his misuse of the military for his own domestic political purposes. He has also been accused of illegally reprogramming federal funds to achieve his policy objectives and politicizing independent agencies for his own ends.
Trump has also waged a relentless assault on human rights, both in the US and abroad. His administration's actions have included the unlawful transfer and deportation of immigrants, the removal of asylum seekers to Panama and Costa Rica in violation of international law, and attacks on the rights to freedom of speech and assembly.
In addition, Trump has targeted specific law firms and legal professionals, intimidating and threatening their livelihoods in an attempt to systematically undermine the judicial system's ability to check executive power. He has also proposed legislation, such as the JUDGES Act, the PEPPER Act, and the NORRA Act, which would further erode the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers.
Furthermore, Trump has challenged the system of checks and balances by issuing dozens of executive orders, memoranda, and proclamations aimed at gutting the federal government and undermining the Constitution. His administration has also threatened judges and private law firms and proposed legislation to intimidate the judiciary and empower the executive branch.
Trump's actions have been described as an all-out assault on basic democratic norms and have prompted widespread protests and opposition from ordinary Americans and organizations alike.
Insanity Plea: A Constitutional Right or Wrong?
You may want to see also
Threats to judicial independence
President Trump has been accused of undermining judicial independence and the rule of law in the United States. This includes issuing public statements and signing executive orders that threaten judges and private law firms, proposing legislation to intimidate the judiciary, and exploiting the institutional strengths of the presidency to abuse the coordinate branches and states.
Trump's administration has also targeted specific law firms that the president holds personal grudges against, accusing them of dishonest and dangerous activities. By threatening the livelihoods of legal professionals, the administration is attempting to undermine the judiciary's ability to check executive power.
In addition, Trump has proposed impeaching judges who rule against his administration. This includes District Judge James E. Boasberg, who ruled against the administration's use of a 1798 wartime law to justify mass deportations. The Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act would grant Trump the authority to appoint 22 new lifetime district court judges, enabling him to stack federal courts with loyalists.
Trump's actions have been described as an "assault on the rule of law" and an attempt to dismantle the system of checks and balances in the US government. They have also been criticised for failing to advance any American national interest and betraying well-established international principles.
Furthermore, Trump has been accused of violating the law and undermining the Constitution by illegally stealing funds, firing career civil servants without cause, and overturning existing trade agreements. These actions have been said to violate human rights and international law, including the First Amendment and ratified human rights treaties.
Counterfeiting Power: Understanding the Punishment's Reach
You may want to see also
Misuse of the military
President Donald Trump has been accused of misusing the military for his own political purposes. One of the most prominent examples of this is his deployment of the military to the southern border, where he has spent nearly $500 billion and engaged tens of thousands of troops, Navy warships, armoured combat vehicles, and military aircraft in immigration enforcement operations.
Trump has also threatened military action in Panama, Greenland, Mexico, and Canada, dropped bombs on Yemen, and increased military sales to Israel, which has intensified its military assault on Gaza, the West Bank, Yemen, and Lebanon. In addition, Trump has aligned the US with former adversaries such as Russia, while making threats against former allies, including Ukraine and NATO.
Trump's use of the military domestically has been widely criticised as dangerous and inappropriate. For example, in April 2025, he issued a memorandum titled "Military Mission for Sealing the Southern Border of the United States and Repelling Invasions," which gives the Defense Department jurisdiction over public civilian lands along the border for military activities. This has raised concerns about the potential for excessive use of force and the erosion of civil liberties for border residents.
Trump's administration has also used the military to transport migrants, including to dangerous locations such as Libya, which has been criticised as a misuse of taxpayer dollars and a danger to US troops. Furthermore, by declaring a national emergency at the border, Trump has justified the use of the military in civilian law enforcement, despite border encounters being at their lowest level since August 2020. This has been described as an attempt to evade the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the military from acting as civilian law enforcement.
Trump's actions regarding the military have been characterised as a dangerous expansion of presidential power and a threat to constitutional structures.
Palmer Raids: Unconstitutional Violations of Civil Liberties
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Illegal reprogramming of federal funds
During his presidency, Donald Trump was accused of engaging in an assault on the US Constitution through various actions. One of the accusations is the illegal reprogramming of federal funds to achieve his policy objectives.
Trump's administration unleashed a series of measures that aimed to reshape the federal government, and many of these moves were deemed overtly unlawful. One example is the freezing of funding for a broad range of federal programs, which was later rescinded due to court action. Despite this, the Trump administration continued to withhold funding, going against Congressionally-approved appropriations. This was seen as an attempt to illegally override Congress's spending decisions and deny funding to communities, which would impact infrastructure projects and investments in families' well-being.
Trump's actions regarding federal funds have been described as an "illegal impoundment of funds" under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. While Trump and his supporters expressed their belief that this Act is unconstitutional, their position faced legal challenges and criticism from senators and the judicial system.
The House Committee on Oversight and Reform also investigated Trump's financial dealings, issuing subpoenas for financial documents to determine if he engaged in illegal conduct, violated the Emoluments Clauses of the Constitution, or accurately reported his finances to ethics offices.
Trump's actions regarding federal funds are part of a pattern of behaviour where he makes aggressive constitutional claims, adjusts them in the face of pushback, and then achieves his original policy goals through further abuses of power. This behaviour has been interpreted as an assault on the constitutional structures of government, including attacks on the "deep state," federal judges, and the division of the nation into "red" and "blue" states.
Postal Service Privatization: Is It Constitutional?
You may want to see also
Undermining human rights treaties
The Trump administration has been criticized for its assault on human rights, both in the United States and abroad. Human Rights Watch has reported that the administration's actions violate, threaten, or undermine the human rights of people, including unlawful transfers and deportations, removal of asylum seekers, and attacks on the right to freedom of speech and assembly.
The administration has also been accused of targeting specific law firms and legal professionals, intimidating and threatening their livelihoods, and attempting to systematically undermine the judicial system's ability to check executive power.
In addition, the Trump administration's actions have been seen as a threat to ratified human rights treaties. The administration ordered a review of all international organizations, conventions, and treaties to which the United States is a party, to determine if they are contrary to US interests and if the US should withdraw from them. This has raised concerns about the potential defunding of critical human rights mechanisms and a weakening of accountability for violating international law.
The administration's actions have been described as "regressive, despotic measures" that aim to neutralize opposition and usurp congressional powers. Sixteen former and current American UN experts released a statement criticizing the administration's assault on the rule of law, stating that it fails to advance any American national interest and betrays well-established international principles.
The Trump administration's actions during its first 100 days in office have sparked protests across the country, highlighting the critical importance of basic rights and freedoms.
The Patrician Percentage in Ancient Rome
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Many sources, including the ACLU, claim that Trump has assaulted the constitution. He has been accused of undermining the judicial system, threatening judges, and eroding constitutional safeguards.
Trump has been accused of undermining the constitution by threatening judges and law firms, misusing the military for his own political purposes, illegally reprogramming federal funds, politicizing independent agencies, and proposing legislation to intimidate the judiciary.
When asked if he has to "uphold the Constitution," Trump has said, "I don't know." He has also argued that fulfilling his campaign promises may take precedence over giving immigrants due process under the Constitution.
Trump's actions have threatened American democracy and weakened accountability for violating international law. Federal district courts have issued injunctions and restraining orders to halt or temporarily stop his administration's assault on the system of government.
Organizations such as the ACLU have urged Congress to stand firm against assaults on democracy and reject legislation that would undercut the judiciary. They have also called on legal professionals to speak out against these attacks and demanded that Trump and his administration cease their threats and reaffirm their commitment to the rule of law.
