US President Donald Trump said he “doesn’t know” whether he must follow the US Constitution during an NBC News interview aired on May 4, 2025.
The 78-year-old Republican spoke with NBC’s Meet the Press host Kristen Welker on May 2. When asked if people in the US deserve due process as stated in the Constitution, Trump answered: “I’m not a lawyer. I don’t know.” When asked again if he believes he needs to follow the supreme law of the land, he repeated: “I don’t know.”
His comments quickly caused reactions in Washington, including from his own party members. Republican Senator Rand Paul posted on X: “We’re either a free society governed by the Constitution or we’re not.”
Trump has been criticized for pushing constitutional limits since returning to the White House in January. This includes his mass deportation policy for undocumented migrants, some without court hearings. The President claims these quick removals are needed due to what he called a “national emergency.” He argues that giving every migrant a court trial would take “300 years.”
Trump’s previous hints about possibly seeking a third term have worried legal and constitutional experts. The 22nd Amendment clearly states that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” In March, Trump said he was “not joking” about going for a third term, adding there are “methods” to make it possible. Changing the Constitution would need a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress and approval by at least 38 states.
During the NBC interview, Trump played down these plans, saying “this is not something I’m looking to do,” while noting that The Trump Organisation’s official store sells red “Trump 2028” hats. “I’m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally a great Republican, a great Republican to carry it forward,” Trump said. When asked about possible successors, he named Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, adding: “We have a lot of good people in this party.”
Trump’s first 100 days back in office faced economic challenges, mainly from his plans for wide tariffs on most countries. Despite the US economy shrinking in the first quarter of 2025, Trump stayed optimistic in the interview. “I think the good parts are the Trump economy and the bad parts are the Biden economy,” he said, claiming that “tariffs are going to make us rich.”
The President overstated some economic wins, claiming gas prices had dropped to US$1.98 (S$2.55) per gallon in some states. According to the American Automobile Association, the lowest US price per gallon that week was actually US$2.65 (S$3.42), with the national average at US$3.16 (S$4.08).
With Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, set to visit the White House soon, Trump was asked if he would repeat his call for Canadians to give up their independence and become the 51st US state. “I’ll always talk about that,” Trump responded, complaining that “we subsidise Canada” through a large trade deficit. When pushed further, Trump said it was “highly unlikely” he would use military force against Canada, adding, “I think we’re not going to ever get to that point.”
Trump also talked about an upcoming military parade in Washington planned for his 79th birthday on June 14. “We’re going to have a big, beautiful parade,” he said, brushing off concerns about the event’s cost while his administration cuts thousands of government jobs. “We have the greatest weapons in the world, and we’re going to celebrate it,” Trump concluded.
