Should America be concerned that President Trump thinks its system of government is 'archaic'?
In a Fox News interview broadcast Friday night, President Trump said four times that America's system of government is "archaic" and moves too slow. "We don't have a lot of closers in politics, and I understand why: It's a very rough system, it's an archaic system," he said at one point. At another: "You look at the rules of the Senate, even the rules of the House — but the rules of the Senate and some of the things you have to go through — it's really a bad thing for the country, in my opinion. They're archaic rules. And maybe at some point we're going to have to take those rules on, because, for the good of the nation, things are going to have to be different."
Trump made a similar point on Sunday's Face the Nation. John Dickerson asked Trump what he's learned in his first 100 days "that you're going to adapt and change, because all presidents have to at this stage." After Trump said he's learned that the media is very "dishonest," he tackled the "system":
It's just a very, very bureaucratic system. I think the rules in Congress and in particular the rules in the Senate are unbelievably archaic and slow moving. And in many cases, unfair. In many cases, you're forced to make deals that are not the deal you'd make. You'd make a much different kind of a deal. You're forced into situations that you hate to be forced into. I also learned ... the Democrats have been totally obstructionist. [Trump, Face the Nation]
Trump specifically criticized the Senate filibuster, notes Aaron Blake at The Washington Post, but combined with his comments challenging the right of the judiciary to constrain him and "his past admiration for authoritarian leaders," Trump's comments about the "archaic" system suggest "a president, yet again, who doesn't agree with his own powers being limited or even questioned."
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.
On CBS News Sunday, Dickerson suggested that Trump is just frustrated with the pace of government. "All presidents feel constrained by the courts and by Congress," he said, and in some ways "this is a traditional thing with presidents." Trump "is a little less schooled in the separation of powers than maybe some previous presidents, though," Dickerson conceded, "so he sees these as obstacles that can be removed, whereas some people see it as the genius of the American system designed so many years ago." Peter Weber
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.
-
Roasted squash and apple soup recipeThe Week Recommends Autumnal soup is full of warming and hearty flavours
-
Ukraine: Donald Trump pivots againIn the Spotlight US president apparently warned Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Vladimir Putin’s terms or face destruction during fractious face-to-face
-
Autumn Budget: will Rachel Reeves raid the rich?Talking Point To fill Britain’s financial black hole, the Chancellor will have to consider everything – except an income tax rise
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
