Trump says only his ‘own morality’ limits presidential powers, dismissing international law
In a New York Times interview, President Donald trump said his use of presidential power is checked only by “his own morality,” downplaying the need to follow international law. The remark followed a controversial U.S. operation that led to the arrest of a Venezuelan leader and came amid tense exchanges with Colombia’s president,Gustavo Petro,who said Trump’s comments felt like a threat. Trump emphasized he doesn’t want to hurt people and claimed he does abide by international law depending on its definition. He also reiterated interest in exerting U.S. control over Greenland for strategic and resource reasons-a proposal strongly rejected by Danish and Greenlandic officials-and suggested ownership provides a psychological advantage. The interview reflects an management willing to push legal boundaries at home and abroad while facing multiple court battles over its policies.
Trump says only his ‘own morality’ limits presidential powers, dismissing international law
President Donald Trump said his power is only limited by his “own morality” in an interview with the New York Times Wednesday.
Trump’s comment come after the United States arrested the leader of Venezuela in a special military operation, stirring controversy in the international community for the administration’s bold action.
When asked if he had any limits on his power, including international laws, Trump gave the morality comment.
“Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me,” he said, adding that he doesn’t “need international law.”
“I’m not looking to hurt people,” he added.
The president has also been eyeing Greenland and Columbia for U.S. intervention. When pressed on whether his administration should abide by international law, he said, “I do.”
“It depends what your definition of international law is,” he said.
Trump has tested the boundaries of the law within the United States and out. His administration’s agenda has tugged the law to its limits on several occasions, and is currently undergoing multiple court battles on issues ranging from immigration to tariffs.
But the president’s foreign policy has been at the forefront lately. He took a call from Colombian President Gustavo Petro during the interview with the New York Times. Petro expressed concern to the outlet that Trump had issued a “threat” directed at them.
“Well, we are in danger,” Petro said. “Because the threat is real. It was made by Trump.”
The two likely smoothed things a bit over.
Trump’s Greenland rhetoric has upset Denmark, the land masses’ owner. He’s suggested that he wants to take control of Greenland, potentially with military force.
“Ownership is very important,” he said. The land mass contains rare earth minerals and is a key strategic point for the U.S. military.
Trump said he needed to possess the landmass to be “psychologically” prepared for success.
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“Because that’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success. I think that ownership gives you a thing that you can’t do, whether you’re talking about a lease or a treaty. Ownership gives you things and elements that you can’t get from just signing a document.”
The island has resisted any efforts to be purchased. “Greenland is not for sale,” Danish ambassador to the U.S. Jesper Møller Sørensen told NBC News. “I think our prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and our foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, has made it very, very clear our country belongs to the Greenlandic people.”
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