Trump has placed himself on the same level as Napoleon, sparking yet another controversy. Paraphrasing the French emperor, the Republican took to social media to vent: “He who saves his country does not violate any law.” It reads like a declaration of principles as he repeatedly stretches the edges of the federal government with executive orders that the courts must resolve.
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Indeed, several executive orders signed in the early days of his second term have already been blocked by judges, including those supporting the dismantling of certain institutions and federal budgets. While the president resists heeding the judicial mandate, his supporters push on social media to challenge the judges’ legitimacy. He has not restored funding for some agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, despite a court order. (Associated Press)
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According to the Associated Press, the administration faces at least 70 lawsuits across the country that cover actions ranging from attempts to end birthright citizenship to the freezing of subsidies and federal funds, as well as restricting access to computer systems and sensitive data by non-governmental entities. Some suits accuse Trump of usurping the authority of Congress as defined in the U.S. Constitution. (Associated Press)
This disregard for the judiciary has sparked alarms among the opposition, with several experts warning that the United States could slip into an institutional crisis. (Associated Press)
Alarm Among Democrats
The president’s words drew sharp criticism from Democrats. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, Hillary Clinton’s running mate in the 2016 race won by Trump, told Fox News that “the president has authority, but he must also obey the law.”
“Like a true dictator,” reacted California Senator Adam Schiff on X, a longtime opponent of Trump. (Associated Press)