Trump’s Shrinking Constitution: Due Process, Canada Takeover, and Third-Term Tease
In a new interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, President Donald Trump refused to affirm support for constitutional due process protections. When asked whether U.S. citizens and noncitizens are entitled to the Fifth Amendment’s guarantees, Trump responded:
“I don’t know. I’m not, I’m not a lawyer. I don’t know.”
While the Constitution mandates due process through both the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, Trump suggested the courts are obstructing his immigration agenda.
“I was elected to get them the hell out of here, and the courts are holding me from doing it,” he said, referencing his efforts to deport undocumented immigrants, including Kilmar Abrego Garcia—a Salvadoran man mistakenly deported and imprisoned in El Salvador, despite a Supreme Court order mandating his return.
Canada as the 51st State?
Trump again floated the idea of turning Canada into the “51st state,” a line that has alarmed Canadian officials. Ahead of a White House meeting with new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump downplayed the likelihood of using military force.
“Highly unlikely,” he said about potential military action toward Canada.
However, Trump was less restrained when discussing Greenland:
“Something could happen with Greenland… We need that for national and international security. I don’t see it with Canada. I just don’t see it.”
The U.S. has no active territorial claim over either country, but Trump continues to use both as rhetorical leverage.
Economy in Flux, But Trump Stays Optimistic
Addressing rising economic concerns, Trump dismissed recession warnings tied to his trade war and tariffs.
“You say, some people on Wall Street say. Well, I tell you something else. Some people on Wall Street say that we’re going to have the greatest economy in history.”
Despite a 0.3% dip in the first quarter, Trump blamed President Biden for the downturn and insisted the positive indicators reflect “the Trump economy.”
Defending potential product shortages caused by tariffs, Trump said:
“They don’t need to have 30 dolls. They can have three… They don’t need 250 pencils. They can have five.”
Flirting With a Third Term—Again
Though constitutionally barred from a third term by the 22nd Amendment, Trump hinted at continued interest:
“There is a lot of support for it… But this is not something I’m looking to do.”
Still, Trump 2028 hats are already on sale, and previous statements have implied he’s entertaining legal avenues to stay in power:
“I’m not joking. There are methods which you could do it,” he told NBC in March.
No Clear GOP Heir—Yet
Despite praising Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “fantastic” and “great,” Trump said it’s too early to talk about successors.
“I could name 10, 15, 20 people right now just sitting here… I think we have a tremendous party. And you know what I can’t name? I can’t name one Democrat.”
Trump’s remarks come as his second term crosses the 100-day mark—an early checkpoint marked by sweeping ambition, unchecked power plays, and growing friction with both legal norms and international allies.
