WEST PALM BEACH – President Donald Trump is cautious about his responsibilities to uphold the Constitution’s due process rights, stating in a new interview that he is unsure whether both US citizens and noncitizens deserve that guarantee.
He also stated that he does not believe military force will be required to make Canada the “51st state” and dismissed the possibility of running for a third term in the White House.
The comments came in a wide-ranging, and at times combative, interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” as the Republican president’s efforts to quickly enact his agenda face sharper headwinds with Americans just as his second administration reached the 100-day mark, according to a recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Trump, on the other hand, has made it clear that he will not back down from a to-do list that he claims the American people broadly supported when they elected him in November.
Here are some of the highlights from the interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker, which was taped Friday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and aired Sunday.
Trump doesn’t commit to due process
Critics on the left have argued that Trump is undermining due process in the United States. They highlight the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man living in Maryland who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador and imprisoned without communication.
Trump claims Abrego Garcia is part of a violent transnational gang. Despite a Supreme Court order requiring the administration to work to return Abrego Garcia to the United States, the Republican president has attempted to use deportation as a test case for his anti-illegal immigration agenda.
When asked in the interview whether both U.S. citizens and noncitizens deserve due process under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution, Trump was unsure.
“I do not know. I am not a lawyer. “I do not know,” Trump replied when pressed by Welker.
The Fifth Amendment guarantees “due process of law,” which means that a person has specific rights when being prosecuted for a crime. Furthermore, the 14th Amendment states that no state shall “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Trump claimed to have “brilliant lawyers … and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said.”
He stated that he is working to deport “some of the worst, most dangerous people on Earth,” but that courts are standing in his way.
“I was elected to get them the hell out of here, and the courts are holding me from doing it,” he stated.
Military action against Canada is ‘highly unlikely’
The President has repeatedly threatened to make Canada the “51st state.”
Before meeting with newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House on Tuesday, Trump is not backing down from the rhetoric that has enraged Canadians.
However, Trump told NBC that it was “highly unlikely” that the US would have to use military force to make Canada the 51st state.
He was less certain about whether his repeated calls for the United States to seize Greenland from NATO ally Denmark could be met without military action.
“Something could happen with Greenland,” Trump said. “I will be honest: we need that for national and international security. I do not see it with Canada. I simply do not see it; I must be honest with you.”
President bristles at recession forecasts
Trump stated that the U.S. economy is in a “transition period,” but he expects it to perform “fantastically” despite the economic turmoil caused by his tariffs.
He responded sharply when Welker mentioned that some Wall Street analysts now believe the chances of a recession are increasing.
“Well, you know, you say, some people on Wall Street say,” Mr. Trump responded. “Well, let me tell you something else. Some on Wall Street believe that we will have the greatest economy in history.
He also shifted blame for the US economy’s 0.3% decline in the first quarter. He denied any responsibility for it.
“I think the good parts are the Trump economy, and the bad parts are the Biden economy because he is done a terrible job,” he said, referring to his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden.
Trump doubled down on his recent comments at a Cabinet meeting that children may have to have two dolls instead of 30, denying that they are an admission that his tariffs will cause supply shortages.
“I am just saying they do not have to have 30 dolls.” They can have three. They do not need to have 250 pencils. “They can have five.”
Trump plays down third-term talk
The president has repeatedly suggested that he may seek a third term in the White House, despite the fact that the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution states that “No person shall be elected to the office of President more than twice.”
Trump told NBC that there is strong support for him to run for a third term.
“But this is not something I am looking to do,” Mr. Trump said. “I am looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally a great Republican, a great Republican to carry it forward.”
Trump’s previous comments about a third term have sometimes appeared to be intended to incite outrage on the political left. The Trump Organization is even selling red caps labeled “Trump 2028.”
But at times, he has hinted that he is seriously considering a third term. In a late March phone interview with NBC, Trump stated, “I am not joking.” There are ways you could do it.
So JD Vance in 2028? Marco Rubio? Not so fast.
Trump stated in the interview that Vice President JD Vance is doing a “fantastic job” and is “brilliant.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom Trump last week appointed as acting national security adviser, is “great,” the president said.
But Trump said it is “far too early” to start talking about his potential successor.
He is confident that his “Make America Great Again” movement will endure beyond his presidency.
“You look at Marco, you look at JD Vance, who is fantastic,” Mr. Trump said. “Look, I could name ten, fifteen, or twenty people right now just sitting here. No, I believe we have a fantastic party. And do you know what I can not name? I cannot name a single Democrat.”
Hegseth is ‘totally safe’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has come under fire for participating in Signal text chains that shared sensitive military planning information. However, Trump has stated that he is not looking to replace his Pentagon chief.
“No. Not even a tiny bit. No. Pete’s going to be fantastic,” Trump declared. Hegseth’s job is “totally safe.”
The president also stated that his decision to nominate national security adviser Mike Waltz to be the United States ambassador to the United Nations was not retaliation for starting the chain, to which Waltz unintentionally added a reporter.
“No. “I just think he will do a good job in his new position,” Trump said. He stated that his decision to have Rubio take over Waltz’s duties will likely be temporary.
“Marco is very busy with other things, so he will not be able to keep it long term. “We are going to put someone else in,” Trump said, adding that it would still be possible to do both jobs indefinitely. “You know, there is a theory. Henry Kissinger did both. There is a theory that you do not need two people. But I believe I have some excellent candidates who could do a good job.
One person he stated he is not considering for the position. Stephen Miller, a senior policy adviser.
“Well, I would love to have Stephen there, but that would be a downgrade,” he replied. “Stephen is much higher on the totem pole than that, in my opinion.”
Trump denied profiting from the presidency, despite continuing to promote a number of business ventures, including cryptocurrency holdings.
“I am not profiting from anything. I started this long before the election. I want cryptocurrency. I believe cryptocurrency is important because if we do not do it, China will. And it is new, it is very popular, and it is very hot,” Trump said, adding that he has not even “even looked” at his earnings from the venture.
Trump launched his own meme coin just days before taking office, and its value skyrocketed after it was announced that top holders would be invited to an exclusive dinner at the president’s Washington-area golf club later this month, as well as a tour of the White House. Last year, he helped launch World Liberty Financial, another cryptocurrency venture.
That is in addition to a long list of other business ventures, including Trump Media & Technology Group, which operates his Truth Social website, as well as branded sneakers, watches, colognes, and perfumes.
“Being president probably cost me money if you really look,” Trump admitted. “In fact, I do something that no other president has done, they think maybe George Washington has done.”
He went on to say, “I give back to the government my entire salary.” And I am doing it again.”
Another TikTok deal extension
Trump stated that he is willing to extend the deadline for a TikTok deal again.
“I would like to see it done,” he said. I have a soft spot in my heart for TikTok. TikTok is very interesting, but it will be protected.
He followed up with: “If it needs an extension, I would be willing to give it an extension, might not need it.”
Last month, Trump used executive action to keep TikTok operational in the United States for an additional 75 days, giving his administration more time to negotiate a deal to bring the social media platform under American ownership.
White House officials believed they were close to reaching an agreement in which the app’s operations would be spun off into a new company based in the United States and owned and operated by the majority of American investors. However, Beijing slowed its response after Trump imposed broad tariffs on countries around the world.
“We do have a deal. We have a large group of purchasers. They will pay a lot of money. This is a good thing for us. It is good news for China. “I believe it will be very good,” he said.
“But because I have essentially cut off China with these high tariffs, they will not be able to do much business with the United States. But if we reach an agreement with China, I am confident that will be a topic, and it will be a very simple one to resolve.”