Trump has once again violated the Oath of Office he took only eight months ago. As America waits for him to deploy the National Guard in Chicago, he made clear where he stands. During an interview in Washington, D.C., he sat defiant in the face of the law. More specifically, the same set of rules that has held every other president to moral standards. Rather than giving a straightforward answer, Trump flaunted his power as president of the United States on public television.
When asked about his decision to send troops into Chicago to “crack down on crime,” Trump said, “I have the right to do anything I want. I’m the president of the United States.” Chicago Governor JB Pritzker has been opposed to Trump’s plan to deploy troops in the city. If the decision moves forward, he plans to challenge it in court.
Under the Posse Comitatus Act, the National Guard can be deployed for three reasons: to repel an invasion, suppress a rebellion, or execute federal laws when the President is unable to execute them using the regular forces. It’s unclear whether Chicago meets any of these conditions, although Trump believes it does. He’s later quoted in the interview, saying, “If I think our country’s in danger, and it is in danger in these cities, I can do it.”
The National Guard would have little recourse or the ability for significant action in Chicago. However, the general public has strong feelings about Trump’s stance. “He thinks the United States is like one of his many failed businesses, where he has complete control to run them into the ground,” says Reddit user ssibal24. SnoopingStuff chimed in, adding, “Ironically, not one person who has actually worked with him and has left has anything respectful or nice to say about him. None of them feel like he’s very smart, organized, or ethical at all.”
