Trump is not sure he must follow the Constitution
When asked about due process for migrants in a TV interview, President Trump said he didn't know whether he had to uphold the Fifth Amendment


What happened
President Donald Trump said on Sunday's "Meet the Press" that he was not sure if he had to follow the Constitution. He also said a U.S. invasion of Canada was "highly unlikely" though "something could happen with Greenland," a big military parade planned for his 79th birthday will be "worth it" and he's not "looking to" run for an unconstitutional third term. Trump said on social media Sunday night he would order the federal government to reopen Alcatraz as a prison and place 100% tariffs on movies filmed overseas.
Who said what
Trump's "revealing" equivocation about upholding the Constitution capped an interview, taped Friday, that "roamed over broad territory," The New York Times said. "I don't know," Trump told NBC News' Kirsten Welker when she asked if he agreed that U.S. citizens and noncitizens were entitled to due process. The Fifth Amendment "might say that," he said, but affording migrants due process rights would require "a million or two million or three million trials," and "I was elected to get them the hell out of here."
Trump answered "I don't know" again when Welker asked, "Don’t you need to uphold the Constitution of the United States as president?" When he took the oath of office on Jan. 20, The Wall Street Journal noted, Trump swore "in part, to 'preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.'"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Former Vice President Mike Pence, awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award Sunday night for certifying Trump's 2020 loss, said in his acceptance speech that "whatever differences we may have as Americans, the Constitution is the common ground on which we stand. It’s what binds us across time and generations," and "what makes us one people."
What next?
Transforming Alcatraz from a popular tourist attraction back to a working prison would be an "expensive and challenging proposition," The Associated Press said. Trump's June 14 parade will cost an estimated $45 million, but that's "peanuts compared to the value of doing it," he said. "We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we're going to celebrate it."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Entente cordiale: will state visit help UK-French relations get over Brexit?
Today's Big Question The King, a keen Francophile who has a warm relationship with Emmanuel Macron, will play a key role in state visit
-
Israel's plan for confining all Palestinians in 'humanitarian city'
The Explainer Defence minister wants to establish zone in Gaza for displaced people – which they would not be allowed to leave – prompting accusations of war crimes
-
Secluded retreats for aspiring writers
The Week Recommends These tranquil hideaways are the perfect place to put pen to paper
-
Iran: Is regime change possible?
Feature The U.S.-Israeli attack exposed cracks in Iran's regime
-
Elon Musk launching 'America Party'
Speed Read The tech mogul promised to form a new political party if Trump's megabill passed Congress
-
How will Trump's megabill affect you?
Today's Big Question Republicans have passed the 'big, beautiful bill' through Congress
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
How successful would Elon Musk's third party be?
Today's Big Question Musk has vowed to start a third party after falling out with Trump
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
How would the Trump administration denaturalize immigrant citizens?
Today's Big Question Using civil courts lowers the burden of proof