Donald Trump appeared to quote Napoleon Bonaparte on Saturday afternoon, referencing a line from a 1970 film as his executive actions, under Elon Musk’s guidance, faced legal challenges in courts nationwide. The quote, “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” was shared on Truth Social and X, with the White House account also endorsing the message. It seemed to reflect Trump’s belief that the president is above the law, especially as federal courts blocked his recent efforts to cut federal funding and fire workers.
The quote, often attributed to Napoleon, is from the movie Waterloo, where Napoleon justifies his reign as the people’s will. Trump’s allies have recently argued that his authority is supreme and unchallenged by judicial oversight, despite facing numerous lawsuits and restraining orders. Musk and other Trump supporters have criticized the judges ruling against them, calling them “corrupt” and “evil,” and even threatened impeachment.
This rhetoric has raised concerns among constitutional experts, with some warning it could lead to a constitutional crisis. Critics, including The New York Times’ Jamelle Bouie and conservative Bill Kristol, have called Trump’s comments anti-constitutional.
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance and White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt have minimized the potential crisis, accusing courts of overstepping their authority.
