President Donald Trump‘s response to a question about “due process” during an interview appearance on NBC News’ Meet the Press on Sunday sparked alarm from his critics.
“Your secretary of state [Marco Rubio] says everyone who’s here, citizens and non-citizens, deserve due process. Do you agree?” host Kristen Welker asked the president during the interview.
“I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer. I don’t know,” the president responded.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email on Sunday morning.
Why It Matters
Concerns about due process have been raised amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, with thousands of individuals deported since he took office.
Critics have warned that the administration has not followed due process in some of these cases and may be ignoring court orders. The Trump administration defends its efforts as necessary to keep Americans safe and remove individuals, particularly criminals, who entered the country illegally.
The high-profile case of Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported in mid-March, has drawn significant attention. The administration has said the deportation was due to an “administrative error,” but has thus far declined to facilitate his return to the U.S., despite a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruling saying the administration must do so.
What To Know
Trump sat for a wide-ranging interview with Meet the Press, which broadcast Sunday morning. After Welker pressed the president on “due process,” she also asked about following the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The Amendment states that “no person” shall be “deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” There’s is no clarification that an individual must be a U.S. citizen.
“Don’t you need to uphold the Constitution of the United States as president?” Welker asked.
“I don’t know. It seems—it might say that, but if you’re talking about that, then we’d have to have a million or 2 million or 3 million trials,” the president responded. “We have thousands of people that are—some murderers and some drug dealers and some of the worst people on Earth…I was elected to get them the hell out of here and the courts are holding me from doing it.”
Welker asked: “But, even given those numbers that you’re talking about. Don’t you need to uphold the Constitution of the United States as president?”
Trump responded: “I don’t know. I have to respond by saying again I have brilliant lawyers that work for me.”
What Trump Critics Are Saying
Dr. Michelle Au, a physician and Democratic member of the Georgia House of Representatives, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “If someone asks the President of the United States if he needs to uphold the Constitution and the answer he gives is anything other than ‘yes,’ we have a big, big problem.”
Harry Sisson, a liberal political social media influencer, on X: “WTF?? Trump was just asked whether everyone deserves due process and he said ‘I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer.’ If the president of the United States doesn’t know what the 5th Amendment says, then we’re in serious trouble.”
George Conway, a conservative attorney and prominent Trump critic, wrote Bluesky: “It’s actually worse than this. He’s lying. He doesn’t think he needs to follow the Constitution at all.”
Brian Krassenstein, a social media influencer and entrepreneur, on X: “When asked if he has to uphold the Constitution, he says ‘I don’t know, I have brilliant lawyers that work for me.’ This should be an IMPEACHABLE [offense]. Who agrees?”
Talbert W. Swan II, the bishop of the Vermont Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, on X: “Does everyone deserve due process like the constitution says? Trump: ‘I don’t know’ Do you need to uphold the constitution as president? Trump: ‘I don’t know’ INTERPRETATION: ‘I DON’T CARE WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS!!’”
Morgan J. Freedom, a filmmaker and advocate for racial justice, on X: “Trump doesn’t know if people deserve due process despite the 5th Amendment which says they do. There’s no arguing that. But Trump is trying to say it makes him do too much work to be fair. This is what it sounds like when an authoritarian rips up the constitution, and tries to steal power from the judicial branch of the government.”
Khary Penebaker, a former DNC member, on X: “Trump just told Kristen Welker he ‘doesn’t know’ whether due process covers everyone. The Fifth Amendment is one line, Don. If you won’t read the Constitution you swore on, quit the dictator cosplay & leave Wisconsin families—& the rest of us—out of your ignorance.”
What Trump Allies Say
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Meet the Press last Sunday when asked if everyone deserves due process: “Yes, of course. But let me tell you it looks – in immigration standing, the laws are very specific. If you’re in this country unlawfully, you have no right to be here, and you must be removed. That’s what the law says.”
Trump’s border czar Thomas Homan on X in mid-March: “With each criminal illegal alien being deported, neighborhoods are becoming safer. Criminal illegal aliens, gang members and national security threats can try to hide with the help of sanctuary cities, however, know this, ICE will not stop until they are found and deported.”
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on X in early April: “The American people can rest assured that @Sec_Noem [DHS Secretary Kristi Noem], @RealTomHoman and I will direct our assets to scour the country for any remnants of Tren De Aragua and DEPORT THEM.” (Tren De Aragua is a Venezuelan gang that has some affiliates operating within the U.S.)
What Happens Next?
The courts will continue to weigh in on immigration cases and deportation orders. Trump has said he plans to comply with court orders, although he routinely attacks judges that rule against his efforts.
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