He Will Be Thrown’: Conservatives Turn on Trump In Fury After He Declares Himself Above the Law in Napoleon-Inspired Rant
Many people who strongly oppose Donald Trump worry that if he becomes president again, he might ignore the Constitution, the courts, and Congress.
They fear he could turn the executive branch into a one-person rule, acting like a king without any checks or balances. Over the weekend, Trump shared posts on social media that seemed to hint at this kind of thinking. He quoted Napoleon Bonaparte, a French leader who declared himself emperor and ruled as a dictator.
Trump wrote, “He who saves his country does not violate any law,” on his Truth Social platform and Elon Musk’s X platform. Musk reposted it with American flag emojis, and the White House account on X also shared it with Trump’s official photo.
The next day, Trump doubled down, urging lawyers and judges to be “tough” and protect the country as his administration faces legal challenges over issues like ending birthright citizenship and reducing the federal workforce.
Critics quickly responded, saying these posts confirm their fears about Trump. New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie called it “the single most un-American and anti-constitutional statement ever uttered by an American president.” California Senator Adam Schiff responded, “Spoken like a true dictator.
Conservative commentator Bill Kristol compared Trump’s quote to a statement by Adolf Hitler, suggesting it echoed authoritarian ideas. Others, like conservative writer Charles C.W. Cooke, called Trump’s posts “nonsense,” emphasizing that the presidency is created by the Constitution, not the other way around.
Even former Vice President Mike Pence criticized Trump, sharing a passage from his 2010 book that warned against presidents who ignore the Constitution. However, Trump’s former Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus, downplayed the quote, saying Trump was just trolling the media and creating distractions.
Meanwhile, others in Trump’s circle have also made concerning statements. Vice President J.D. Vance claimed that judges can’t control the executive branch’s power, which is false. And Elon Musk, upset about a *60 Minutes* interview, suggested the show’s staff should face prison time, which many found alarming.
Liberal activist Angelo Carusone pointed out that the real concern isn’t just Trump’s posts but how his supporters respond to them. For example, Trump superfan Jack Posobiec replied to Trump’s quote with, “America will be saved. What must be done will be done,” while conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer praised Trump, saying, “We love you.”
Overall, Trump’s posts and the reactions to them have deepened fears about his potential disregard for democratic norms and the rule of law if he were to return to power.
