Donald Trump tells court he had no duty to ‘support’ the US Constitution

"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."

To be fair, "support" isn't the exact word used, but "preserve, protect, and defend" is pretty unequivocal

The text of the section they are challenging (emphasis added):

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

It's an exceptionally stupid argument, even for Trump. Obviously "preserve, protect, and defend" are all forms of support, so this challenge is quite possibly the stupidest legal argument they've made so far (which is an extremely high bar). But I suppose they don't think they can realistically claim that he didnt engage in insurrection.

There is a record of the Senate debate on this amendment.

One questioned 'Why doesn't this include the president?'.

Another senator replied 'It does under the section of anyone who holds an office'.

The response was 'Ok, I was unclear on that'. And the debate carried on.

So the writers obviously intended this to include the office of the president.

I do solemnly swear 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.

“Never believe that anti-Semites are completely unaware of the absurdity of their replies. They know that their remarks are frivolous, open to challenge. But they are amusing themselves, for it is their adversary who is obliged to use words responsibly, since he believes in words. The anti-Semites have the right to play. They even like to play with discourse for, by giving ridiculous reasons, they discredit the seriousness of their interlocutors. They delight in acting in bad faith, since they seek not to persuade by sound argument but to intimidate and disconcert. If you press them too closely, they will abruptly fall silent, loftily indicating by some phrase that the time for argument is past.”

― Jean-Paul Sartre

I hope his prison wardens give him pants that don't support adult diapers.

I hope he has more success arguing semantics with the prison gang leaders.

Given the oath an elected official needs to swear, you'd think this would invalidate him for even trying to get elected.

But we know the normal rules don't seem to matter any more.

If only he had murdered a bunch of small children instead then Republicans might have cared about the Constitution part.

His only duty is to Putin, and himself.

In that order.

The insanity of this mf

I’m sorry, fucking what now?

That’s the nation’s constitutionalists’ preferred candidate, everyone, nothing wrong here.

So I guess that's basically an admission that he violated his oath.

Traitor

Look at that fucking baboon. Look at that orange shit on his face. It’s gonna be hilarious to see this traitor cunt without his makeup. His pallid countenance contrasting sharply with his prison jumpsuit.

He's right, cuz he had his fingers crossed while he was being sworn in. 🤞

And 50% of Americans approve! Bravo!

This is like cops saying they no obligation to serve and protect.

Trump screeching the quiet part out loud

must've ran out of spaghetti to throw at the wall, and this is what is left.

Well, ya know who does have a duty to support the constitution? Literally everyone in the military.

I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God. - Oath of Enlistment

I ___, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God. - Oath of Commissioned Officers

Notice that they both specify "all enemies, foreign and domestic".

Every service member that's had the opportunity to engage Trump the same way they do any other enemy to US, and chosen not to do so, has violated their oath.

... And here I thought there were no new lows that would surprise me

The US Constitution and Donald Trump are mutual enemies.

Bruh…

He says a lot of things.

Off with his head!

In other news, water is wet.

Bear with me for a minute: why should the Constitution be an immutable document? It was written hundreds of years ago by slave-owners coming off of countless years of British oppression.

It would be like if Palestine gained independence, Hamas wrote a constitution, and every government for centuries afterwards followed that constitution.

Especially important is the warning to avoid conversations with the demon. We may ask what is relevant but anything beyond that is dangerous. He is a liar. The demon is a liar. He will lie to confuse us. But he will also mix lies with the truth to attack us. The attack is psychological, Damien, and powerful. So don’t listen to him. Remember that - do not listen.

Children of America: You are not stupid. Don't let them continue to treat you like you are.