Trump v. the Declaration of Independence
While the beginning paragraphs of the U.S. Declaration of Independence are the most quoted, it is often overlooked that our Founding Father’s listed 27 grievances against Great Britain’s King George III and outlined their reasons for declaring independence from the British Crown. Here is how these grievances stack against former President Donald J. Trump (R):
He has forbidden his
Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended
in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended,
he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
While “Governors” in the Declaration’s context is in reference to King George’s ministers, it can also be applicable to the Governors of the United States during both the COVID-19 Pandemic and other natural disaster situations, when President Trump pressed the issue of withholding aid to “blue” States and areas, due to the lack of popular support for him in such.
Though not the same concretely, this grievance is fundamentally the same as in King George’s time: he refused to exercise the powers conferred upon him for carrying out certain responsibilities and refused to allow those who could exercise such powers from doing so.
He has called together
legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the
depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into
compliance with his measures.
Far worse than this was his instigation and support of domestic terrorists on January 6th, who ransacked the Capitol Building, terrorized members of the Federal Legislature in the execution of their Constitutional duties of counting the electoral votes, and who would have lynched the same if given the opportunity.
He has endeavoured to
prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws
for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their
migrations hither . . .
Trump’s immigration policy, in a nutshell.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
Unlike King George, Trump has not refused to pass laws establishing or maintaining the judicial branch. Rather, he refused to accept their findings that he had lost his re-election bid in 2020, leading to the events of January 6 and his second impeachment. There is more than one way to obstruct the administration of justice and refusing to acknowledge the decisions of the judicial branch is just one of them.
He has erected a
multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our
people, and eat out their substance.
This has yet to have happened, but with the implementation of Project 2025 looming on the horizon, coupled with Trump’s rhetoric concerning retribution, it is reasonable to suspect that this will easily make the list shortly after Trump’s next inauguration.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. . . .
He has affected to
render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
Trump repeatedly tried to deploy the U.S. Army against U.S. Citizens during the mass protests which occurred after George Floyd’s murder in 2020. He has repeatedly, on the campaign trail, talked about using the military to go after his political opponents and has “liked” suggestions on social media of using military tribunals to prosecute said opponents.
For Quartering large
bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from
punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these
States;
While not applicable to the U.S. military in this context, he has liberally used the powers of the Presidency to pardon not only those sycophants who fall on their own swords for him (e.g., Steve Bannon), but allegedly may have known about (or participated in) a bribery scheme to secure pardons.
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world
Protectionist tariffs, anyone?
For taking away our
Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the
Forms of our Governments;
For suspending our own
Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us
in all cases whatsoever.
He has publicly called for the termination of the U.S. Constitution and “all rules, regulations, and articles”, has publicly stated that he would like to be a dictator for “only” the first day of office, and has sought to fundamentally alter the form of the Electoral College by pressuring State Legislatures to appoint alternative slates of electors when they are not satisfied with the results of the popular election of electors to such College.
He has excited domestic
insurrections amongst us . . .
January 6, full stop.
Twelve grievances out of twenty-seven is quite an impressive feat for a President of the United States. Many of the others would not be possible for a President, because they are explicitly prohibited by the U.S. Constitution (e.g., dissolving legislative bodies, calling such bodies into sessions, etc.) and several are anachronistic (e.g., taking sailors captive on the high seas and pressing them to fight against their country).
The fact that Trump is following in King George III’s footsteps, coupled with his public calls to terminate the U.S. Constitution, should give any honest conservatives in the classical liberal tradition of Thomas Jefferson pause (at least) in supporting his re-election. And if it does not do so, they should stop being pretentious and admit that their political beliefs are not aligned with Jefferson’s, but with King George’s.
