Donald Trump caused controversy after saying “I don’t know” when asked if upholding the Constitution is a presidential duty.
In a recent interview, Donald Trump expressed uncertainty about his responsibility to uphold the U.S. Constitution as president.
This statement came during a discussion about his first 100 days in office for his second term on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Trump stumped after being asked if it’s his job to uphold the Constitution as president
During the interview with Kristen Welker, Trump was asked if he believed it was his job to uphold the Constitution.
“I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer. So, I don’t know,” responded Trump, prompting Welker to push back, “Well, the Fifth Amendment says as much.”
He further elaborated that focusing on legal processes could lead to overwhelming numbers of trials.
“I don’t know. It seems – it might say that, but if you’re talking about that, then we’d have to have a million or 2 million or 3 million trials.”
He added: “We have thousands of people that are some murderers and some drug dealers and some of the worst people on Earth.
Some of the worst, most dangerous people on Earth. And I was elected to get them the hell out of here, and the courts are holding me from doing it.”
As the conversation continued, Welker pressed Trump on the need to uphold the Constitution.
Again, he responded uncertainly, saying, “I don’t know.”
“I have to respond by saying, again, I have brilliant lawyers that work for me, and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said. What you said is not what I heard the Supreme Court said. They have a different interpretation,” he added.
Donald Trump discusses a third term
The interview also touched on speculation surrounding a potential third term for Trump, despite it being prohibited by the Constitution.
When asked if he was considering running again, he mentioned that many people wanted him to do so.
Trump responded, “So many people want me to do it. I have never had requests so strong as that. But it’s something that, to the best of my knowledge, you’re not allowed to do.”
Trump indicated that he is focused on having four good years in his current term.
He expressed hope that he would hand over the presidency to another strong Republican candidate in 2028.
Despite this, he noted that some of his supporters are serious about finding a way for him to run for a third term.
Welker reiterated that the Constitution prohibits a third term.
Trump responded by saying that support for him is a compliment, reflecting that people appreciate his leadership.
“That’s because they like the job I’m doing, and it’s a compliment. It’s really a great compliment,” he said in response.
Trump’s recent interviews sparked significant misunderstandings.
The interview aired after another controversial sit-down with ABC News, where Trump made headlines for his remarks about the Declaration of Independence.
In that interview, he also discussed a recently deported individual, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and insisted that an edited image of the man’s tattoos was authentic.
Trump claimed that the tattoos on Abrego Garcia’s knuckles indicated gang affiliation, despite the absence of a criminal record.
Even when confronted with evidence that the tattoos had been altered in an image, Trump maintained that they were real.
When pressed by the ABC anchor, Trump became defensive, insisting that Abrego Garcia had tattoos that clearly indicated gang membership.
Trump, however, continued to insist. “No, no. He had ‘M-S,’ as clear as you can be. Not interpreted. This is why people no longer believe the news, because it’s fake news… You do such a disservice.
Why don’t you just say, ‘Yes, he does,’ and you know, go on to something else?”