Trump Suggests 'My Morality' Trumps International Law. (So Did Many Before Him.)
The Independent details Trump's latest remarks, where he asserts a boundless executive authority, even floating the Insurrection Act for domestic use. While framed as an alarming new pronouncement, this stance is less of a rogue ideology and more of an explicit articulation of a deeply embedded bipartisan philosophy. Recall the Bush administration's 'enhanced interrogation techniques' and the
drone war expansion under Obama—both actions frequently sidestepped international norms, if not outright violated them, under the guise of national interest. The US has, for decades, selectively applied international 'rules-based order' to others while often exempting itself, especially when it comes to military interventions or support for allies like Israel, who themselves regularly flout UN
resolutions. One might wonder if the outrage is truly about the statement itself, or simply about who said it. When President Biden greenlights arms sales to Israel, even as UN bodies warn of potential genocide, it’s rarely framed as 'not needing international law' in the same breathless tones. The principle remains: power dictates legality. Trump just removed the polite diplomatic veneer.