3 ms·

Is the commission of genocide a "core constitutional power" of the presidency? I guess maybe if it were spun as "national defense" or somesuch.

selectodude 9mo ago
The Supreme Court says that the President (if republican) can declare anything an official act and once something is an official act it is immune from prosecution. So yeah, I don’t see any “laws” stopping the commission of genocide. Trump knows it, too. The only thing stopping him is his own morality.
- Morromist 9mo ago
  I'll bet he would do a lot more illegal stuff if only his morality were stopping him. He also has to think about what happens after he's out of office/dead, or if he upsets the supreme court enough that they tell him to stop. The more egregious his acts the more likely the people carrying them out will be prosecuted by outraged people after he's gone so it might be difficult to find competant people to do his dirty work. OTOH Even if he did send immigrants and liberals to deathcamps there's no way hard core trump voters would turn on him so he never has to worry about getting removed from office through impeachment with a 2/3rds majority after the midterms.
  - selectodude 9mo ago
    > I'll bet he would do a lot more illegal stuff if only his morality were stopping him. It was a direct quote. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/us/politics/trump-interview-power-morality.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/us/politics/trump-intervi...
mothballed 9mo ago
Probably not of the presidency, although maybe one of congress, since it would affect interstate commerce and thus genocide is part of the enumerated powers authorized to congress.
Volundr 9mo ago
Commanding the military is a "core constitutional power". Thus he has immunity regardless of if said commands are illegal. He (probably) can't go and shoot someone on main Street as he once bragged, but ordering the military to do so...
JohnBooty 9mo ago
That sort of thing you mentioned is always spun as that other sort of thing you mentioned.

selectodude 9mo ago

The Supreme Court says that the President (if republican) can declare anything an official act and once something is an official act it is immune from prosecution. So yeah, I don’t see any “laws” stopping the commission of genocide. Trump knows it, too. The only thing stopping him is his own morality.

Morromist 9mo ago
I'll bet he would do a lot more illegal stuff if only his morality were stopping him. He also has to think about what happens after he's out of office/dead, or if he upsets the supreme court enough that they tell him to stop. The more egregious his acts the more likely the people carrying them out will be prosecuted by outraged people after he's gone so it might be difficult to find competant people to do his dirty work. OTOH Even if he did send immigrants and liberals to deathcamps there's no way hard core trump voters would turn on him so he never has to worry about getting removed from office through impeachment with a 2/3rds majority after the midterms.
- selectodude 9mo ago
  > I'll bet he would do a lot more illegal stuff if only his morality were stopping him. It was a direct quote. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/us/politics/trump-interview-power-morality.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/us/politics/trump-intervi...

mothballed 9mo ago

Probably not of the presidency, although maybe one of congress, since it would affect interstate commerce and thus genocide is part of the enumerated powers authorized to congress.

Volundr 9mo ago

Commanding the military is a "core constitutional power". Thus he has immunity regardless of if said commands are illegal. He (probably) can't go and shoot someone on main Street as he once bragged, but ordering the military to do so...

JohnBooty 9mo ago

That sort of thing you mentioned is always spun as that other sort of thing you mentioned.