Can Courts Judge a President’s Motives? Trump’s Legal Immunity Faces New Challenges

Is it the place of the judiciary to inquire into the president’s motives?

I could ask, Do the judges get to read the president’s mind? But that would imply that there may be something subtle or veiled at work. Not so. President Trump is not just an open book. He’s a 24/7 in-your-face, endless blast of deafening-decibel proclamation. All him, him, him, telling us all about what he does, what he intends to do, and exactly why he’s doing it. Which is not to say it’s consistent or coherent: Trump, for example, has wanted you to know, over the past nine years, that no one was tougher on Putin than he, that they have always had a great relationship, that Putin is a brilliant leader who cares deeply about Russia, and that he has no idea what the hell happened to Putin, who is now — only now! — maniacally killing people. Which is not to say we don’t kill people, too.

About the Author

Andrew C. McCarthy

Andrew C. McCarthy is a senior fellow at National Review Institute, an NR contributing editor, and author of Ball of Collusion: The Plot to Rig an Election and Destroy a Presidency.

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Is it the place of the judiciary to inquire into the president’s motives?

I could ask, Do the judges get to read the president’s mind? But that would imply that there may be something subtle or veiled at work. Not so. President Trump is not just an open book. He’s a 24/7 in-your-face, endless blast of deafening-decibel proclamation. All him, him, him, telling us all about what he does, what he intends to do, and exactly why he’s doing it. Which is not to say it’s consistent or coherent: Trump, for example, has wanted you to know, over the past nine years, that no one was tougher on Putin than he, that they have always had a great relationship, that Putin is a brilliant leader who cares deeply about Russia, and that he has no idea what the hell happened to Putin, who is now — only now! — maniacally killing people. Which is not to say we don’t kill people, too.

About the Author

Andrew C. McCarthy

Andrew C. McCarthy is a senior fellow at National Review Institute, an NR contributing editor, and author of Ball of Collusion: The Plot to Rig an Election and Destroy a Presidency.