Trump’s Oath Wasn’t to His Lawyers: It Was to the Constitution

The presidential oath is just 35 words—one of only three affirmations in the Constitution, and the only one that specifies the exact language the president must recite. Article II, Section 1, Clause 8 of the Constitution states:

Before he enters on the execution of his office, [the president] shall take the following oath or affirmation:—“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

With his hand on the Bible, Donald Trump has said these solemn words twice. He has sworn—twice—to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. Yet on Sunday, during an interview with Kristen Welker of Meet the Press, when asked whether he would uphold the Constitution, he said, “I don’t know.”

Let that sink in: the president of the United States publicly admitted he doesn't know whether he would uphold the Constitution.

It isn’t optional. It isn’t a choice. It is a mandate. He promised. He swore. He affirmed. He lied.

Trump’s response? That his “brilliant” lawyers will “obviously follow what the Supreme Court says” (but not necessarily the Constitution itself)—but that he didn’t know whether he would. His oath wasn’t to his lawyers. His oath was to the Constitution.

This is a lawless man, a lawless administration, and a lawless movement.

And if we can’t say that out loud, we’ve already surrendered the rule of law.