Could the United States be on the verge of a constitutional crisis unlike any before? President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm of debate with his latest Truth Social post: “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.” The statement echoes sentiments of unchecked power—ones that have historically led to seismic political upheavals.
Vice President JD Vance, a staunch ally of Trump, has long supported the idea of ignoring judicial rulings that stand in the administration’s way. In 2021, he declared that a reelected Trump should “fire every single midlevel bureaucrat, [and] every civil servant in the administrative state … and when the courts stop you, stand before the country like Andrew Jackson did and say: ‘The chief justice has made his ruling. Now let him enforce it.’” More recently, Vance reaffirmed this view, doubling down in an interview with Politico.
Trump, drawing from history, has evoked words attributed to Napoleon—”He who saves the country does not violate any law”—a phrase eerily reminiscent of Richard Nixon’s infamous claim, “When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.” Adding to the controversy, Trump proclaimed “LONG LIVE THE KING” after revoking federal approval of New York’s congestion pricing program, echoing the absolute power once boasted by French monarch Louis XIV. Meanwhile, Elon Musk—one of Trump’s most influential supporters—has called for a sweeping purge of federal judges who dare to rule against them.
But history warns of the dangers of unchecked executive power. Since the nation’s founding, the judicial branch has served as the ultimate arbiter of the law, dismantling the British Empire’s doctrine of absolute rule. The Constitution explicitly requires the president to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed”—a mandate rooted in the English Bill of Rights of 1689, which outlawed regal authority to suspend laws without parliamentary approval.
Chief Justice William Rehnquist once declared judicial review “the crown jewel” of the Constitution. This principle was upheld when President Dwight D. Eisenhower deployed federal troops to enforce desegregation at Central High School in 1957. Similarly, President John F. Kennedy sent troops to ensure the enrollment of James Meredith at the University of Mississippi in 1962. No president has openly defied the Supreme Court—at least not without dire consequences.
Historical precedent suggests that defying the judiciary can spark political upheaval. Andrew Jackson, often cited by Trump allies, reportedly scoffed at a Supreme Court ruling in Worcester v. Georgia (1832), but ultimately, the situation was defused when Georgia’s governor granted pardons to the convicted missionaries at the heart of the case. Even Abraham Lincoln, during the Civil War, refused to follow an initial court order regarding habeas corpus suspension—only for Congress to later validate his decision through legislation.
The last true test of presidential defiance came during Watergate. When President Richard Nixon attempted to stonewall the investigation by firing special prosecutor Archibald Cox—an act upheld by a court ruling—the American public erupted in outrage. The “Saturday Night Massacre” led to mass protests and an avalanche of telegrams to Congress. Faced with a constitutional reckoning, Nixon ultimately complied with the courts and released the incriminating White House tapes, leading to his downfall.
Now, Trump and Musk appear to be steering the nation toward a new standoff with the judiciary. Just last month, the Supreme Court upheld a temporary restraining order blocking their attempts to remove a special counsel investigating the administration. With legal battles mounting, a direct collision between the executive branch and the Supreme Court seems inevitable.
As this crisis unfolds, history suggests only two forces can preserve the rule of law: Congress, through impeachment, and the American people, through their unwavering demand for accountability. The nation may soon face a defining moment—will the Constitution prevail, or will the balance of power be forever shattered?
