President Donald Trump’s posting, “Long live the king,” says out loud what his actions in the last month have implied: He seeks the kind of royal power that the Founders feared.
The Constitution asserts that powers not explicitly granted to the federal government devolve to the states. Trump, however, asserted that he can and will override actions of New York City, a municipality duly established under the Constitution of New York State. The U.S. Constitution does not grant that kingly power.
Instead, the Constitution sought to prevent assumption of absolute authority by establishing the separation of powers between the president, the Congress and the judiciary. But the Supreme Court held last year that the president has “immunity from prosecution for all his official acts.” Will the Court block his actions in 2025? Will Congress step up and assert its constitutional authority over the federal budget?
My waking nightmare is that the Republican Congress abdicates its constitutional mandate. Even if the Supreme Court reasserts its authority to declare the president’s actions unconstitutional, what institution exists in our country to stop Trump’s assumption of dictatorial power?
Would the military defy the commander-in-chief? Would military leaders presented with this unprecedented situation diverge into warring factions?
Ironically, I write this on the birthday of George Washington, the president who would NOT be King. Please let me awaken to discover that the America I believe in still exists.
Dick White
Durango
