Trump Alarms Critics Using Napoleon Quote, Suggesting He’s Above The Law

On Saturday, President Donald Trump posted the quote, “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law” on the social media platforms Truth Social and X. The quote was also reposted by the official White House account on X.

The message implies that Trump may think he’s above the law. On Sunday, Trump reposted a photo on Truth Social of the same quote overlaid on a painting of Napoleon Bonaparte, a French military leader who named himself Emperor of France. Napoleon was often viewed as an authoritarian ruler who prioritized personal power and exhibited dictatorial authority. The choice to associate his words with Napoleon sparked concern, with many viewing this as a play for unchecked executive power. 

Trump’s post comes after many of his executive orders were blocked by federal courts, such as his attempts to fire thousands of USAID workers and redefine the 14th Amendment to remove birthright citizenship. The Trump administration pushed back on rulings and continues to argue for an expansive view of the executive branch’s authority, framing judicial resistance as an overreach by the courts.

Trump’s messaging suggests that he sees legal constraints as secondary to his political vision, reinforcing concerns about democratic backsliding.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California) posted on X, “Spoken like a true dictator.”

Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-New York) wrote on X, “Donald Trump seems to believe he can do whatever he wishes in the name of saving the country. In our constitutional republic, the means matter more than the ends. The U.S. Constitution trumps the policy preferences of President Trump.” Torres emphasizes the importance of adhering to constitutional principles, arguing that in a democratic system, the legitimacy of government actions is determined by legal and constitutional processes, not by the president’s policy goals.