politics
What Trump Officials Mean by “Never”
The claim that the president could not possibly do something unethical marks a new frontier of impunity by the administration.
TL;DR
- Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that President Trump has never and will never ask him to do something unethical or illegal.
- The administration has adopted a "never has, never will" mantra to dismiss accusations of conflicts of interest and illegal actions.
- Past instances suggest Trump has pressured attorneys general and engaged in actions that could be considered conflicts of interest or illegal, such as the housing discrimination case and falsifying business records.
- The "never has, never will" defense is characterized as brazen, broadly asserting that Trump's actions are beyond scrutiny rather than defending specific incidents.
- This approach represents a departure from norms followed by previous administrations, where financial interests were placed in blind trusts to avoid perceived bias.
- The administration's stance redefines Trump's conduct, implying that any demand upon the justice system or business activity is inherently proper and legal by definition.