On Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) sharply criticized President Donald Trump for his uncertain remarks regarding the obligation to uphold the U.S. Constitution amid ongoing immigration enforcement measures. During an interview on NBC News's "Meet the Press," hosted by Kristen Welker, President Trump expressed a lack of clarity about his constitutional responsibilities in light of a significant Supreme Court ruling.
In the interview, Trump revealed that he was “relying” on Attorney General Pam Bondi to navigate the administration's response to a Supreme Court decision that mandated his administration to “facilitate” the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man wrongfully deported from Maryland. When pressed by Welker about whether he believes he must uphold the Constitution in matters of deportation, Trump responded, “I don’t know. I have to respond by saying, again, I have brilliant lawyers that work for me, and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said.”
Following the interview, Schumer took to the social media platform X to express his outrage, stating that the president has “just admitted that he ‘doesn’t know’ whether he needs to uphold the Constitution.” He further emphasized that such uncertainty is “as un-American as it gets.” This statement highlights the deep concerns among some lawmakers about the administration's approach to immigration and constitutional obligations.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen from Maryland weighed in on this issue last month, declaring that the United States is facing a constitutional crisis due to the Trump administration’s apparent disregard for court orders. During an earlier episode of "Meet the Press," Welker asked Van Hollen whether he believed the Trump administration was ignoring judicial rulings. Van Hollen affirmed, “Oh, yes, we are. They are very much flouting the courts as we speak.” He pointed out that the courts have clearly stated that facilitating Garcia’s return entails more than inaction, yet the administration is failing to comply.
The situation surrounding immigration enforcement and constitutional adherence continues to evolve, with significant implications for the future. The Hill has reached out to the White House for a response regarding these serious allegations and comments made by both Schumer and Van Hollen.
