United States: In a recent tête-à-tête with NBC’s Kristen Welker, President Donald Trump appeared hesitant about the sanctity of constitutional due process, hesitating when asked whether its guarantees extend equally to US citizens and noncitizens. The exchange, at times sparring, unfolded against the sunlit backdrop of Mar-a-Lago, just as Trump’s second administration crossed the 100-day marker, navigating stiff political currents.
Evasive on Due Process Commitments
When pressed on whether constitutional rights, particularly those ensconced in the Fifth Amendment, apply uniformly to all individuals within American borders, Trump shrugged off legal precision. “I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer,” he said, dodging the gravity of the Constitution’s core assurances. Critics quickly noted this ambiguity, especially given the administration’s handling of the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case—a Salvadoran man deported mistakenly and imprisoned without legal access, according to AP News.
Trump categorized Abrego Garcia as part of a notorious gang and insisted on pushing forward with deportations of individuals he dubbed “the worst, most dangerous people on Earth.” He lamented legal obstructions: “I was chosen to get them out, and now the courts are stopping me.”
He assured the public that his legal team—whom he called “brilliant minds”—would obey the Supreme Court’s direction, but his broader rhetoric pointed toward a more hardline, discretionary interpretation of justice.
Canada: Conquest or Jest?
Despite stirring tensions with north-of-the-border rhetoric, Trump claimed military annexation of Canada into the US as the “51st state” was improbable. “Highly unlikely,” he admitted, though not with the same certainty regarding Greenland. “Something could occur with Greenland. I’m being candid—we need it, strategically,” he said, keeping open the door to expansionist maneuvers under the guise of national security, as per AP News.
Economic Jitters Brushed Aside
Confronted with whispers of an economic dip—most recently a 0.3% contraction in Q1—Trump shifted responsibility. He bifurcated blame along party lines, crediting his leadership for economic resilience while denouncing Biden’s tenure as economically corrosive.
“The good? That’s the Trump economy,” he said with flair. “The bad? That’s Biden. He did a dreadful job.” He rebuked forecasts of a recession, countering that “some on Wall Street say we’re poised for historic highs.” His quip about children owning fewer toys and school supplies—once dismissed as a metaphor—was defended with a straight face: “They don’t need thirty dolls. Three’s plenty. Two hundred pencils? Five does the job.”
Dodging Talk of a Third Term
Though whispers swirl about Trump exploring a potential third term—despite the 22nd Amendment’s cap—he offered a tempered stance. “There’s support out there,” he admitted, “but I’m focused on making these next four years count, then handing it off to a remarkable Republican.”
Merchandise like “Trump 2028” caps adds fuel to speculation, but Trump maintained ambiguity. In a past phone interview, he teased, “I’m not joking. There are ways you could make it happen.”
Heirs Apparent? Too Soon, Says Trump
While he praised Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “outstanding” and “sharp,” Trump balked at succession talk. “It’s premature,” he said, though he effused confidence in the GOP bench. “Marco, JD—they’re superb. I could rattle off a dozen more names. But you ask me to name a Democrat? I can’t even come up with one,” according to AP News.
His tone made one thing crystal clear: Trump sees his “Make America Great Again” crusade enduring long after his own political sunset.