Maddow Blog-'I don't know': Trump stumped on whether he must uphold the U.S. Constitution

[LetMyPeopleVote]

It was a simple question: “Don’t you need to uphold the Constitution of the United States as president?” Trump's misguided answer spoke volumes.

In three recent interviews, Trump has been asked for his response to concerns about his authoritarian-style agenda.

In each instance, he went out of his way to avoid the point of the question. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-05-05T12:15:29.130Z

In three recent interviews, Trump has been asked for his response to concerns about his authoritarian-style agenda.

In each instance, he went out of his way to avoid the point of the question

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/-dont-know-trump-stumped-whether-must-uphold-us-constitution-rcna204782

It was a timely reminder that the Republican has no meaningful background in political science or American civics. If he were more familiar with the subject matter, Trump would be far more familiar with the underlying concept. As University of Pennsylvania law professor Kate Shaw recently explained in a New York Times op-ed, “The basic proposition of the rule of law is that we are a society of laws, not of men. Government actors must wield their power consistent with rules that are known in advance, so people understand what’s expected of them and what consequences will attach to particular actions.”All of this, of course, came to mind watching the president reflect anew on his constitutional responsibilities. NBC News reported:

President Donald Trump argued in an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that fulfilling his ambitious campaign promise to rapidly carry out mass deportations may take precedence over giving immigrants the right to due process under the Constitution, as required by courts.

A month earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also appeared on “Meet the Press” and was asked whether every person in the United States is entitled to due process. “Yes, of course,” he replied.When host Kristen Welker pressed Trump on whether he agreed with his own secretary of state for the “Meet the Press” episode that aired this past Sunday, the president replied, “I don’t know. I’m not, I’m not a lawyer. I don’t know.”

Welker noted, “Well, the Fifth Amendment says as much.” Again, Trump replied, “I don’t know.”

When the back and forth continued, and the host asked, “Don’t you need to uphold the Constitution of the United States as president?” Trump responded, “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.”
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:aunpu65mdrhwfie7ynymlzeh/post/3loe6w6nu5s2k

Link to tweet

.....This question has come up quite a bit lately, with reporters from ABC News and The Atlantic similarly asking about Trump and authoritarianism. In each instance, instead of responding with incredulity about the underlying concern — or better yet, with categorical rejections of tyranny — the Republican has responded by pointing to his election victory.

With each passing day, Trump’s authoritarian ambitions become less subtle.

[dutch777]

1. Yeah, that taking an oath thing is real worthwhile....unless the oath taker is brain dead.

[Justice matters.]

2. And a 34-times still unpunished convicted felon.

Constant unpunished lawlessness leads to chaos and mayhem when not deterred.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. Maddow Blog-'I don't know': The problem with Trump leaning into his new favorite phrase

It’s worth appreciating not just how many times the president has said “I don’t know” in recent days, but also the scope of his apparent cluelessness.

So far this week, Trump has said "I don't know" in response to questions about:
- sending migrants to Libya
- due process
- upholding the Constitution
- interactions with El Salvador
- tariff exceptions
- JD Vance's line on Russia's war demands
The cluelessness matters. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-05-08T12:58:09.974Z

So far this week, Trump has said "I don't know" in response to questions about:
- sending migrants to Libya
- due process
- upholding the Constitution
- interactions with El Salvador
- tariff exceptions
- JD Vance's line on Russia's war demands
The cluelessness matters

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/-dont-know-problem-trump-leaning-new-favorite-phrase-rcna205546

It was against this backdrop that Trump was asked a straightforward question about the story. The New Republic noted:

Donald Trump says he doesn’t know whether he plans to deport hundreds of immigrants to Libya, amidst reports that his administration will do so as soon as Wednesday. “Is the administration sending migrants to Libya?” Trump was asked during a press conference Wednesday afternoon. “I don’t know,” he responded. “You’ll have to ask the Department of Homeland Security.”

While it was certainly possible that the president was simply lying about what he knew, at face value, it appeared that the Republican was simply unaware of what his own administration was up to.
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/post/3lolxlhitki2e

Link to tweet

.....On Sunday, for example, NBC News aired Trump’s latest appearance on “Meet the Press.” When host Kristen Welker asked whether everyone in the United States is entitled to due process, the president replied, “I don’t know. I’m not, I’m not a lawyer. I don’t know.” When Welker reminded her guest about the Fifth Amendment, Trump again said, “I don’t know.”

As part of the same exchange, Welker went on to say, “[D]on’t you need to uphold the Constitution of the United States as president?” Once again, Trump answered, “I don’t know.”

As the interview continued, the host asked whether anyone in his administration is in contact with El Salvador about returning Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States. “I don’t know,” the president said. “You’d have to ask the attorney general that question......

What’s more, most objective observers would probably agree that if Joe Biden repeatedly said, “I don’t know” in response to simple questions about his own administration, it would be front-page news — and the Democrat’s responses would be played on a loop, for hours on end, in conservative media.

Similarly, Trump has personally invested considerable time and energy into accusing Biden of being a doddering old “autopen” president who was unaware of events unfolding around him. Given the frequency with which the Republican clings to “I don’t know” responses, he might need a new line of attack.

Finally, let’s not overlook the fact that Trump’s authoritarian-style tendencies are rooted, at least in part, in the idea governmental power must be concentrated and put in his hands, to be executed as he sees fit.

It makes the president’s apparent cluelessness that much more alarming.