During a May 4th interview, President Trump gave an unexpected response to NBC’s Kristen Welker when asked if he believes he needs to uphold the Constitution. Welker inquired about his stance in relation to a case involving Kilmer Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador and is now supported for return by the Supreme Court.
Trump’s answer? “I don’t know.”
This is striking, particularly considering Trump’s previous oath to “preserve, protect, and defend the US Constitution.” It almost feels surreal.
The interview took place at the conclusion of his first 100 days in office, during a period marked by increased executive power, international turmoil, a weakening dollar, and supply shortages. Many experts have deemed it one of the worst inaugural terms in American history.
Interestingly, despite the challenges of living under Trump’s presidency, his core supporters remain loyal. They see him as a figure akin to the Pope—whose influence is unquestioned. For these supporters, Trump’s persona is almost sacrosanct, seeking to bolster their faith in him.
While Trump seems to dismiss constitutional principles like free speech and lawful processes, his followers consider his actions a stand for freedom against what they view as an oppressive leftist regime. When critics label him a dictator, his supporters feel justified in their defense of him.
It’s well-known that people often cherry-pick information to fit their existing beliefs. Psychologists refer to this phenomenon as “Cognitive Dissonance,” where individuals feel discomfort when holding conflicting ideas. To manage this, people tend to gravitate toward information that aligns with their viewpoints.
The responses from Trump supporters regarding his first 100 days exemplify this tendency.
Meanwhile, 42% of Americans have given his initial term a failing grade, yet only 5% of self-identified Republicans concur. A striking 84% of Republicans rate him with either an A or a B, while among Democrats, just 5% offer him high marks, and 80% hand him an F.
Other surveys echo similar results. Research from the Institute of Public Religion indicated that 52% of respondents labeled Trump as “a dangerous dictator” who should have his power curtailed to protect democracy. A significant 87% of Democrats agreed, in stark contrast to only 17% of Republicans.
The survey also uncovered that 19% of Republicans think the president should have the ability to defer the 2026 midterms in times of crisis. Another 27% believe amendments should be made to allow the president to serve more than one term.
Additionally, 29% of Republicans feel that, if necessary, a president should be prepared to break certain laws to restore order.
Even though this is not a majority view, it reflects a considerable number of Republicans willing to overlook the president’s disregard for legality, making it difficult for advocates of democracy and the rule of law.
Ben Rhodes, who served as deputy national security adviser under Obama, aptly pointed out that “Democrats cannot effectively lead the necessary opposition” in their current state, emphasizing that merely maintaining the status quo won’t safeguard democracy.
To protect democratic ideals, a broad, inclusive coalition needs to be formed. This entails compromising some ideological purities and integrating perspectives we might normally critique.
Changing mindsets and prioritizing partnerships over insular groups is essential. However, the recent voting patterns demonstrate that this is no easy feat.
Yet, remaining partisan might limit our chances of preserving democracy.
