Trump Lays Out a Vision of Power Restrained Only by 'My Own Morality'

[highplainsdem]

Source: NYT

President Trump declared on Wednesday evening that his power as commander in chief is constrained only by his “own morality,” brushing aside international law and other checks on his ability to use military might to strike, invade or coerce nations around the world.

Asked in a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times if there were any limits on his global powers, Mr. Trump said: “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.”

“I don’t need international law,” he added. “I’m not looking to hurt people.”

When pressed further about whether his administration needed to abide by international law, Mr. Trump said, “I do.” But he made clear he would be the arbiter when such constraints applied to the United States.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/us/politics/trump-interview-power-morality.html

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He's the living, stinking definition of lawless.


Bluesky comment from journalist/historian Garrett Graff:

I’m sorry, what “morality” is that exactly?

— Garrett M. Graff (@vermontgmg.bsky.social) 2026-01-08T19:24:07.361Z

[jls4561]

1. What morality? Ask E Jean Carroll.

By the way, I hear you owe her some money.

[Linda ladeewolf]

33. The same moral basis that Elon Musk is using.

It’s okay for billionaires to allow AI to create child abuse porn and strip the dignity from women. Billionaires think of themselves as gods, dont you know? They have all the money, all the power. They have no morals. Only the love of money and power. The “Love” of money is the root of all evil, not money itself. We all like a bit of money, just because it’s necessary to live in our society, but most of us are content with enough.

This is the same morality that allowed a place like Epstein’s Island to flourish, where billionaires could abuse the children of the lesser ones. The same morality that Curtis Yarvin uses to suggest that the poor should be reduced to biofuel. It’s not really morality, it’s power gone mad. The same morality that allows mega churches to flourish and build millionaires from donations made by people on social security. It’s the same morality that make proud boys so proud. It’s just a lust for whatever power they can latch onto.

[Lonestarblue]

2. Well, that leaves every possibility available since he is totally amoral.

He just declared himself king, with no power of anyone to stop him.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. It would have been more accurate had he said it was based on his own immorality.

[dweller]

3. He spelled

mortality wrong







✌🏻

[Clouds Passing]

4. ..

[Jilly_in_VA]

5. What morality?

First I've ever heard of it.

[GiqueCee]

36. MORALITY?!!?

Trump has the moral compass of a rabid hyena.

[duckworth969]

7. Fascist Pig

[SergeStorms]

8. No comment.

This is getting far too unbelievable, even for him.

[Skittles]

26. yup

like with everything, he is overreaching....even his brain-dead admirers would find that a bit suspect :shrugh:

[sinkingfeeling]

9. My fondest wish is to see this blowhard in the Hague.

[RedWhiteBlueIsRacist]

10. His "own mortality" would be even better!

[MLWR]

11. IOW, he will be totally unrestrained. Just like he was with little girls.

[maxsolomon]

12. He is 100% looking to hurt people.

He's done it his entire life.

[GiqueCee]

35. Legend has it...

... that beating up a 5-year-old was the last straw that got him sent to a military academy. Doesn't surprise me a bit. I've been watching his clown show for more than 40 years, and this evil fuck delights in hurting people.

[Seinan Sensei]

13. Pedophiles everywhere are rejoicing

[Marie Marie]

14. We have the Supreme Court Jesters to thank for that.

[flashman13]

15. So sayeth the mad king.

[3catwoman3]

16. His own morality?

What a load of BS.

[Rebl2]

17. Weird

how I read that as my own mortality

[kimbutgar]

18. He is an insane megalomaniac and his mania is getting worst

Don’t be surprised if he orders the military to bomb a blue state!

There are no guardrails on him and I’m frankly getting scared for our country’s safety.

[0rganism]

19. At first, I thought it was a typo, and I think it more accurate vs F47's spoken view: constrained by his own *mortality*

I don't think he exits his massive power-grab alive. (nothing specific, JMHO)

[mwb970]

20. I had to laugh at the idea of trump having morals.

[Paladin]

21. It would be hilarious---if it weren't so terrifying. (nt)

[purr-rat beauty]

22. Quite Impeachable of a statement

He is beholden to The Constitution and The American People, he was elected (hired) and abides by the law whether he likes it or not.

If not....he is a traitor.

No pussy footing around it.

[DallasNE]

23. Trump's Morality Is A Blank Sheet Of Paper nt

[orangecrush]

24. Shut up, Piggy

[joshdawg]

25. trump is, without a doubt,

the most immoral asswipe that has ever infected the human race.
A fence post has more moral values than orangeass.

[OldBaldy1701E]

27. "It's the only thing that can stop me."

Sure it is.

It may be the only thing anyone seems willing to allow to do so, but it is far from the 'only' thing.

[NNadir]

28. I'm rather glad I no longer subscribe to tge sane washing New York Times.

[dlk]

29. It was a typo

Trump can’t spell. He meant mortality, unrestrained king for life.

[BradBo]

39. That's what I think also.

[milestogo]

30. He wants sympathy

but he's the Devil.

[utherpendragon]

31. Baby Jane:

Blanche: “You wouldn’t be able to do these awful things to me if I weren’t still in this chair.”
Jane: “You are, Blanche. You are in that chair.”

[Martin68]

32. Trump just convicted himself.

[Sogo]

34. What a stupid, naive man.

He would be easily crushed by an opposition coalition, and it would be a humiliating defeat of our military.

[Quanto Magnus]

37. Given he has no morals....

we're in for more trouble...

[BradBo]

38. I think he's so stupid he meant mortality.