Omar Bennett
In December 2022, former US President Donald Trump faced widespread criticism for suggesting that termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution was justified, based on his false claim that he lost the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud. Trump's statement, posted on his Truth Social media platform, was denounced by both parties, with some lawmakers condemning the remarks and urging Republicans to reconsider their support for the former president. This incident sparked discussions about the implications for the future of American democracy and the role of the Constitution in preserving freedom and the rule of law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for Suspension | Trump claimed that the 2020 election was stolen from him due to widespread voter fraud |
| Trump's Words | "A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution" |
| Response from the White House | "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 from Republicans | Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said he "vehemently" disagrees and "absolutely" condemns the remarks. Rep.-elect Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., also objected to the remarks, saying, "The Constitution is set for a reason, to protect the rights of every American." |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's false claims of election fraud
In December 2022, former US President Donald Trump pushed the false claim that he lost the 2020 election 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 post was denounced by the White House, with spokesman Andrew Bates stating:
> "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 claim of election fraud was also contradicted by FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, who testified under oath that the FBI had "not seen, historically, any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election, whether it's by mail or otherwise". Trump's false statements about the 2020 election were later listed in his Washington, D.C. criminal indictment and Georgia criminal indictment.
Trump has a history of making false or misleading statements, including claims of voter fraud in states he lost in the 2016 election, false statements related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and accusations against Ilhan Omar. He has also made false claims about mail-in ballots, alleging that "mailboxes will be robbed, ballots will be forged & even illegally printed out & fraudulently signed". Trump's allies have also amplified false claims that Dominion Voting Systems helped rig the 2020 race for Joe Biden.
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Trump's call to terminate the Constitution
In December 2022, former US President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform that a "massive fraud" of the type he alleged in the 2020 election "allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution." Trump's post was denounced by the White House and members of both parties, who described it as "extreme" and "anathema to the soul of our nation."
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!"
While Trump did not explicitly call for the suspension of the Constitution, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie claimed during a GOP primary debate that Trump had said "it is okay to suspend the Constitution." Christie's argument was that Trump raised the notion of "termination" rather than "suspension." Trump later attempted to walk back his statement, writing, "The Fake News is actually trying to convince the American People that I said I wanted to 'terminate' the Constitution."
Trump's comments were made in the context of his false claim that he lost the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud. His suggestion that this justified the termination of the Constitution was met with widespread criticism and prompted calls for intervention from Republican leaders. Incoming House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said that Republicans would have to decide whether to "continue embracing Trump's anti-democratic views" or "return to some semblance of reasonableness."
In a speech in August 2025, former President Joe Biden accused Trump of trying to "dismantle the Constitution," claiming that the Trump administration was engaged in "an existential fight with minority communities" and was trying to "ease all the gains we've made in my administration."
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The White House's response
In December 2022, former President Donald Trump made a statement on his Truth Social media platform, suggesting that the "termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution" was justified. This was based on his false claim that he lost the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud.
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. You cannot only love America when you win."
Trump's comments were also condemned by members of his own party, including Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, and Rep.-elect Mike Lawler, R-N.Y. They emphasized the importance of the Constitution in protecting the rights of all Americans and encouraged Trump to focus on the future if he intends to run for president again.
Trump later attempted to walk back his statement, claiming that the media was misrepresenting his words. However, his initial statement sparked widespread concern and criticism, with many interpreting it as a call to suspend or terminate parts of the Constitution, a foundational document of American democracy.
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Republican backlash
In December 2022, former US President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform that "a massive fraud" of the type he alleged in the 2020 election "allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution." Trump's post was denounced by the White House and members of the Republican Party, sparking a backlash from within his own party.
Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said he "vehemently disagrees" with and "absolutely condemns" Trump's remarks. He added that Trump's comments should be considered when deciding who should lead the Republican Party in 2024. Rep.-elect Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., also objected to Trump's remarks, stating that "the Constitution is set for a reason, to protect the rights of every American."
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" or "return to some semblance of reasonableness." The White House spokesman Andrew Bates responded to Trump's comments, stating that "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 later attempted to walk back his statement, writing on Truth Social that "the Fake News is actually trying to convince the American People that I said I wanted to 'terminate' the Constitution."
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Trump's response to criticism
In December 2022, former President Donald Trump pushed the false claim that he lost the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud. He 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 post was denounced by the White House, with spokesman Andrew Bates stating:
> "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 several members of the Republican Party, 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".
In response to the criticism, Trump attempted to walk back his statement, writing via Truth Social on December 5:
> "The Fake News is actually trying to convince the American People that I said I wanted to 'terminate' the Constitution. This is not true. The vote you take is to preserve, protect and defend, not suspend. I will always stand up for our Constitution regardless of political pressure."
Trump's clarification was supported by former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who used the GOP primary debate on Fox News to continue his attacks on Trump. Christie claimed that Trump's comments were taken out of context, stating that Trump was referring to the "termination" rather than the "suspension" of the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
In December 2022, former President Donald Trump suggested the "termination" of all rules and regulations, including those in the Constitution, due to his baseless claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him as a result of widespread voter fraud.
Trump's comments were denounced by the White House, with spokesman Andrew Bates stating, "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, also "vehemently" disagreed and "absolutely" condemned the remarks.
Trump later attempted to walk back his statement, writing on Truth Social on December 5, "The Fake News is actually trying to convince the American People that I said I wanted to 'terminate' the Constitution."
