In a wide-ranging and at times contentious interview that aired Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” President Donald J. Trump repeatedly expressed uncertainty about his constitutional obligations as president, including whether he is required to uphold the Constitution and whether individuals on U.S. soil—citizens or not—are entitled to due process under the law.
Asked directly by host Kristen Welker if he believes he must uphold the Constitution during his presidency, Trump responded, “I don’t know.”
Pressed further, he cited his legal team. “I have brilliant lawyers that work for me, and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said,” he added.
The remarks came amid a broader discussion of his immigration policy, particularly his ongoing push to expedite mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Trump dismissed the practicality of providing individual hearings, arguing that doing so would overwhelm the court system.
“I was elected to get them the hell out of here, and the courts are holding me from doing it,” Trump said, describing the due process requirement as a barrier to fulfilling his campaign promises.
When asked if he agreed with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s assertion that everyone in the United States is entitled to due process, Trump again replied, “I don’t know. I’m not a lawyer.”
Welker reminded the president that the Fifth Amendment guarantees due process rights to all persons within the country. Trump did not offer a definitive position, instead speculating that applying the law as written could require “a million or 2 million or 3 million trials.”
Throughout the interview, Trump’s answers often veered into other topics, reflecting his typical improvisational style. When asked whether he would rule out using military force to seize Greenland, Trump said he would not, though he described such a move as unlikely. On Canada, he said the idea was “highly unlikely.”
Asked whether he intended to seek a third term—an action barred by the 22nd Amendment—Trump said he was not planning to do so, despite the Trump Organization’s online store selling “Trump 2028” merchandise.
“There are many people selling the 2028 hat,” he said. “But this is not something I’m looking to do. I’m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally a great Republican.”
He went on to name Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as potential successors.
“No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice,” reads the Constitution’s 22nd Amendment, which was ratified in 1951 following the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt, who died shortly after he was elected to a fourth term in office. “And no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.”
Trump also addressed the economic picture, defending his trade war with China despite new federal data showing that the U.S. economy contracted during the first quarter of the year.
The president attributed the downturn to the necessary costs of realignment, arguing that ending trade with China would ultimately benefit the U.S.
“Now we’re essentially not doing business with China. Therefore, we’re saving hundreds of billions of dollars. Very simple,” he said.
Confronted with rising prices on consumer goods such as strollers—cited by Welker as an example of tariff impact—Trump bristled. “Gasoline is thousands of times more important than a stroller,” he said.
On the topic of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome H. Powell, Trump reiterated his past criticism but said he would not seek to remove him before his term ends in 2026, noting, “I get to replace the person in another short period of time.”
Asked whether he was worried about the possibility of a recession, Trump replied, “Anything can happen,” but predicted economic success. “I think we’re going to have the greatest economy in the history of our country.”
The president also touched on foreign policy, suggesting that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine were faltering and that he had come close to abandoning the effort. “Well, there will be a time when I will say, ‘OK, keep going. Keep being stupid and keep fighting,’” he said, without elaborating on what might constitute a successful conclusion.
On the popular social media app TikTok, which has faced bipartisan pressure to divest from Chinese ownership or face a ban, Trump said he would extend a reprieve again if necessary, delaying enforcement to allow a deal.
In a final note of assurance, Trump vowed not to support any Republican-backed legislation that would cut Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security, signaling a populist stance on entitlement programs as the 2024 election cycle unfolds.
The interview, recorded Friday and broadcast in full on Sunday, offered one of the most expansive glimpses in recent months into the thinking of the president as he navigates legal battles, constitutional questions, foreign entanglements, and domestic economic uncertainty.