Does drumpf now meet the Constitutional Definition of Treason?

[Takket]

And if so does he qualify for the death penalty if convicted? (I'm not advocating for the death penalty, something i oppose, just musing on where a future AG could apply that, if they wanted to)

The constitutional definition of treason is pretty narrow: Read about it here if you want.

https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/articles/article-iii/clauses/39

Let's assume the "there's been no declaration of war so it can't be treason!" reasoning does NOT apply here and can't be used as an excuse. In other words the courts are satisfied by arguments that "yeah, congress didn't declare it, but its a fucking war". I'm asking if he is giving "aid and comfort" to the enemy because of this:

🔴 Russia shared satellite images of a US base in Saudi Arabia with Iran days before it was struck, according to Ukrainian intelligence.

Follow the latest updates below. 🔗
www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...

— Jon Cooper (@joncooper-us.bsky.social) 2026-03-29T12:55:17.037Z

''

The fact that the the Trump Administration lifted sanctions on Russia while they were helping Iran target US bases is enough to criminally charge everyone involved in lifting those sanctions . I’m sure aiding the enemy is a crime .

— Rich Boswell (@bozbuckeye.bsky.social) 2026-03-28T22:11:33.185Z

Either by complete incompetence or outright betrayal, by helping Russia we are de facto helping Iran target and kill our own troops and assets. We KNOW this is going on yet Trump is NOT stopping it. Now, we cannot expect Russia to simply not help Iran, that's not why this is treason. It is treason because they ARE helping Iran, with THEIR WAR against us, at the SAME TIME we are helping Russia.

I admit there are a lot of holes here......

Like, you would have to prove that Russia wouldn't just be helping Iran ANYWAY even if we did NOT lift the sanctions. Or put another way, you would have to prove that lifting the sanctions on Russia DIRECTLY improved their ability to help Iran wage war against the US assets. I'm ASSUMING that is true, and provable (and yeah, that the Supreme Court wouldn't just hand wave away the entire premise based on "the president has absolute immunity!!!!! which honestly is probably how this would go down).

ASSUMING THIS IS ALL PROVABLE, could he be convicted for treason?

[kacekwl]

1. If we only had a fully functioning

DOJ and Republican congress he'd have been hanged years ago.

[Clouds Passing]

6. If only Garland used his garland 🤔

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. Nope

No declaration of war, no “enemy” to aid.

See:
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
Jane Fonda
John Walker Lindh (the American Taliban)
And numerous others who gave classified information to other countries.

And that is without the protection of the immunity ruling.

Of course, a courageous congress could impeach and remove him for any reason, since the courts have no jurisdiction, and the right of due process does not apply to impeachment.

[wnylib]

7. What about accomplice to murder by aiding in the deaths

of American military personnel?

[chowder66]

8. But he can be charged with war crimes even if "War" has not been declared.

&t=34s

[Fiendish Thingy]

12. Sure...

If we elect a president with the courage to extradite Trump to The Hague.

[GiqueCee]

9. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg...

... were executed for less than what this evil fuck has done.

[Fiendish Thingy]

13. The Rosenbergs weren't charged with treason

They were convicted of espionage.

[harumph]

18. Yep, but apparently "treason" is sexier.

Few mention espionage on this forum.

[Fiendish Thingy]

19. Treason is quicker to type than "AARGLE BAARRGLE!" Nt

[harumph]

23. Sick of it too. I'm going to post U.S. Code 794 - Gathering or delivering defense information to aid foreign government

in a separate thread. I'm gobsmacked that people here (smart people mind you) constantly get fixated on an irrelevant
concept. As you say, the blackletter definition of treason is not dependent on what any of us 'believe' it to be.

[wnylib]

11. Even without a declaration of war, Russia

carries out the act of an enemy when it assists in the deaths of American military members. So anyone who helps Russia to carry out those actions is aiding and abetting an enemy of the US.

[Fiendish Thingy]

14. Nobody has been charged or convicted of treason in over 100 years without a declared war.

Not under the aiding or giving comfort to an enemy portion of the statute.

No declared war, no legal enemy; no enemy no treason (unless you yourself actively wage war against the US)

[wnylib]

20. I am not a lawyer let alone a Constitutional scholar.

But I think that a Constitutional attorney could make a good case against aiding and abetting a nation that kills US military members.

Since I have no expertise in the field, I will have to leave it up to experts on whether my opinion holds any water. I hope that Constitutional experts are looking into this.

[Fiendish Thingy]

24. If your theory were true, Jane Fonda would have been executed before she won any Oscars. Nt

[wnylib]

25. How many Americans did she kill with a photo op?

Not the same category as giving intel that pinpoints where and when to strike Americans with missiles or drones.

[Fiendish Thingy]

26. Should we prosecute based on the letter of the law?

On just on vibes?

[wnylib]

27. Vibes???

Letter of the law vs. spirit of the law. Takes a Constitutional scholar with a good knowledge of historical background to determine either one.

I don't claim to be either a historian or Constitutional attorney. I do think that the matter should be looked into by both.

[Fiendish Thingy]

29. I agree- investigations and prosecutions to the full extent of the law

But it won’t be for treason.

[gab13by13]

3. What about the Congressional Magats

who just gave Russian officials a tour of the Capitol?

What Krasnov and his Congressional Magats are doing fits the dictionary definition of treason, that's good enough for me.

[Fiendish Thingy]

16. So, no more Rule of Law?

We just convict and execute people based on what feels good on an Internet forum now?

Plenty of other crimes he has committed…we just need to elect courageous Democrats who will expand the court so the immunity ruling can be overturned.

[malaise]

4. Long exceeded that

Rec

[Turbineguy]

5. Republikans will keep him safe.

Always. For ever.

[hay rick]

10. Treason is like pornography...

I know it when I see it. Yes, he's a traitor. No, I'm not opposed to the death penalty- at least in this particular case. I would be satisfied if he was convicted, sentenced to death and had his head shaved, but died peacefully in custody a decade later as he exhausted a seemingly endless appeals process. I do not believe in torture but I am not averse to withholding a few comforts, like makeup and ketchup.

[LudwigPastorius]

15. Since we are not in direct armed conflict with Russia, I don't think it meets the legal definition of "enemy".

I'd like to see a prosecutor try Trump and his thugs for treason anyway. We might get lucky.

[Fiendish Thingy]

17. It would never get to trial

If a prosecutor could even get a grand jury to issue an indictment, the judge would dismiss the charges at the arraignment.

Nobody has been charged or convicted of treason under the “aiding or giving comfort to an enemy” portion of the statute without a declaration of war in place.

[Gaugamela]

21. The question is whether we still live in a constitutional republic, or if we've descended

into a bloody free-for-all. If it’s the latter, then we can do anything we want.

[usonian]

22. Easily, right after war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Trading in state secrets is called treason. (Paul Krugman)
People close to Trump are trading based on national secrets

https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/treason-in-the-futures-markets

[yellow dahlia]

28. My question is - where did Russia get the intelligence they shared.

Could some of it have come from documents they received from Krasnov, which Krasnov stole from the WH?

Ever since the warrant served on Maralago by the FBI yielded hundreds of stolen classified documents, I have been wondering how much sharing has gone...and to whom...and to what level of damage.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

30. For the attacks on the airbases, Russia, like us and other nations have their own satellites.

All they need to do is look during a flyby and see what planes are sitting on the tarmac at what bases. Anyone with a satellite can see what we have parked at air base. Even private companies who specialize in geospatial imaging.

[yellow dahlia]

31. Thanks for the follow up.