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Trump Is Making America Constitutionally Literate - By Violating the Constitution

• John & Nisha Whitehead - The Rutherford Institute

"Donald Trump ran on a platform of relentless, thoroughgoing rejection of the Constitution itself, and its underlying principle of democratic self-government and individual rights. True, he never endorsed quartering of troops in private homes in time of peace, but aside from that there is hardly a provision of the Bill of Rights or later amendments he did not explicitly promise to override, from First Amendment freedom of the press and of religion to Fourth Amendment freedom from 'unreasonable searches and seizures' to Sixth Amendment right to counsel to Fourteenth Amendment birthright citizenship and Equal Protection and Fifteenth Amendment voting rights."—Garrett Epps, law professor

If Donald Trump is remembered for anything, it may be his unintentional role in reviving public interest in the U.S. Constitution.

Indeed, few modern political figures have done more to prompt spontaneous national discussions about the Bill of Rights and constitutional limits on government power—if only because Trump tramples on them so frequently.

Through his routine disregard for due process, free speech, separation of powers, and the rule of law, President Trump has become a walking civics lesson.

From the First and Fourth Amendments to the Emoluments Clause, the Constitution has never had such regular airtime.

Ironically, this might be Trump's greatest legacy: forcing Americans to learn what the Constitution actually says—by violating it.

Unfortunately, Trump himself remains constitutionally illiterate.

Days after issuing an executive order that openly hints at martial law, Trump made a mockery of his oath of office by confessing his complete ignorance about the Constitution on national television. When asked if he needs to uphold the Constitution of the United States as president, Trump replied, "I don't know."

This is the same man who appointed himself Chair of America's 250th anniversary celebration but seems entirely unaware of what that history represents. Asked what the Declaration of Independence means, Trump called it a "declaration of unity and love."

In reality, it's a fiery breakup letter - a revolutionary indictment of unchecked executive power.

1 Comments in Response to

Comment by PureTrust
Entered on:

Is nobody taking into account the 'Contract Clause' of the Constitution? - https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution-conan/article-1/section-10/clause-1/contract-clause. The CC has been adjudicated to mean contracts and agreements between people and government. Since everybody (almost) has contracted with government, everybody (almost) has become a 14th Amendment citizen. This allows Trump to do whatever he wants with his CITIZENS. Like a king with his subjects. Some of it is direct Constitution. Some of it doesn't have to be. The only thing that people always have a right to do is to redeem themselves from being CITIZENS. But they can't do it if they don't even know about it. "Office of the Person" - https://redress4dummies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/office-of-person1.pdf.



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