Image from MSNBC
Picture this: the leader of the free world, mid-interview, sipping an iced tea (or maybe a Diet Coke), when NBC’s Kristen Welker lobs a softie: “Don’t you need to uphold the Constitution of the United States as president?” And Trump, with the confidence of a bloke who’s just been asked to explain quantum physics, goes, “I don’t know.” I don’t know. Followed by a quick pivot to, “I have brilliant lawyers that work for me, and they’re going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said.” Cue the collective jaw-drop across America.
Now, let’s unpack this with a cheeky grin. The Constitution, that dusty old parchment, is kind of a big deal. It’s the rulebook for running the U.S., the thing every president swears to “preserve, protect, and defend” while standing on a fancy podium, hand on a Bible, with millions watching. Trump’s done this twice, mind you – once in 2017, again in 2025. So, to hear him say “I don’t know” about upholding it is like a chef saying, “Dunno if I need to cook the chicken.” It’s not just a whoopsie; it’s a plot twist nobody saw coming.
Imagine the scene at Mar-a-Lago post-interview. His advisors are probably scrambling, muttering, “Did he just say that out loud?” Meanwhile, Trump’s likely kicking back, unfazed, tweeting about how the media’s twisting his words (or posting a meme of himself as a Founding Father, wig and all). The “brilliant lawyers” line is pure gold – classic Trump, outsourcing the tricky stuff to the suits. It’s like saying, “I don’t know how to fly this plane, but my mate Dave’s got a pilot’s license, so we’re good.” Except it’s not a plane; it’s the backbone of American democracy.
The internet, of course, lost its mind. It lit up with reactions from Democrats crying “Dictator!” to constitutional scholars clutching their pearls. One user quipped, “Trump treating the Constitution like it’s a Terms and Conditions” though he probably didn’t even read. Even Republican Senator Rand Paul has been busy recently reminding everyone the Constitution isn’t optional. But Trump’s base? They’re probably cheering, seeing it as him sticking it to the “woke courts” slowing down his deportation plans.
Here’s the rub: Trump’s “I don’t know” isn’t just a gaffe. It’s a window into a mindset where the Constitution is less a sacred duty and more a pesky speed bump on the road to Getting Stuff Done. Whether it’s deporting millions or musing about a third term (which, spoiler, the Constitution bans), he seems to view the law as a suggestion, not a rule. His defenders might say he’s just being practical – courts are clogging up his agenda! But when the president shrugs off his oath, it’s less “draining the swamp” and more “who needs a map?”
So, what’s the takeaway? Trump’s quip is a reminder that words matter, especially from the Oval Office. The Constitution isn’t a choose-your-own-adventure book. It’s the guardrail keeping the U.S. from veering into chaos. And if the president’s unsure about upholding it, maybe it’s time for a refresher – lawyers or not.
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It's disgraceful that he claims that he has a copy of 'The Constitution' behind a curtained area in the Oval Office - which he occasionally reveals for dramatic effect to a visiting TV journalist. Absolute garbage!
The original document can be seen at The National Archives Building , Washington DC. It is on permanent display and not hidden behind a curtain in the Oval Office.
Why doesn't someone call him out on this lie?
More: why doesn't someone take this dangerous man out of public life and into care - or prison?