Trump walks back controversial call to suspend the Constitution

December 6, 2022

Facing backlash from the left and right, former President Donald Trump has apparently backtracked a call to suspend the Constitution and re-do the "rigged" 2020 election.

In a post clarifying the controversial statement, Trump said he does not want to "terminate" the Constitution and called the notion a media fabrication.

Trump backtracks Constitution comment

The former president had provoked widespread outrage when he demanded a re-do of the 2020 presidential election, citing an explosive report from independent journalist Matt Taibbi about Twitter's censorship of authentic information about Hunter Biden's shadowy business dealings.

The report showed that Twitter insiders privately doubted their decision to throttle the Hunter Biden story prior to the election, but lacked the "guts" to change course, as one employee put it. Trump and many of his allies are claiming vindication, saying the report proves the election was rigged.

"A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution. Our great ‘Founders’ did not want, and would not condone, False & Fraudulent Elections!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

In a follow-up post, Trump said that he was not calling for the Constitution to be suspended but added that "only FOOLS" accept "STOLEN" elections.

Biden pounces

The left has pounced on Trump's comments, saying they show the former president, who they have long accused of inciting an "insurrection," has the soul of a tyrant.

The Biden White House, which is currently running controversial criminal investigations of Trump, a 2024 presidential candidate, called Trump's rhetoric "anathema to the soul of our nation."

The administration has also dismissed the bombshell report about Twitter's political, pro-Biden censorship as "not healthy" and a "distraction."

Pushback from the right

Trump has also been facing mounting pushback from the right, with critics emboldened by what they see as his waning influence over the GOP following its underwhelming performance in the midterm elections.

Conservative critics of Trump, including John Bolton, Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and former vice president and likely primary challenger Mike Pence, have suggested Trump's latest comments demonstrate he is unfit to lead the party.

"I must tell you that I think that everyone that serves in public office, everyone that aspires to serve or serve again should make it clear that we will support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” Pence said.

Some Republicans have been more direct than Pence. "We need to move on," said Texas Republican senator John Cornyn.

" A free people [claim] their rights, as derived from the laws of nature."
Thomas Jefferson
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