Donald Trump is making it clear—he believes there are no limits to his power. His latest move, attempting to revoke pardons issued by Joe Biden, is both unconstitutional and dangerous. The Constitution gives the president absolute authority to grant pardons, and once issued, they cannot be undone. Trump’s claim that Biden’s use of an autopen makes the pardons “void” is legally baseless and a blatant attempt to expand his control.
Trump’s claim that autopen signatures invalidate pardons is a laughably ignorant, baseless attempt to undermine the rule of law.
This is more than a legal fight—it’s a warning. Trump is testing the waters to see what he can get away with. If he can erase a former president’s decisions at will, what else will he try? His actions signal that he has no intention of respecting the Constitution’s limits. He has already floated the idea of a third term, despite the 22nd Amendment explicitly forbidding it.
Trump’s abuse of power isn’t stopping with pardons. He has invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport people without due process, stretching a law meant for wartime to fit his own agenda. This is a pattern—whenever Trump sees an opportunity to sidestep legal constraints, he takes it. He is setting a dangerous precedent that a president can do whatever he wants, regardless of the law.
The real issue here is Trump’s view of the presidency. He doesn’t see it as a temporary role within a system of checks and balances. He sees it as absolute power. His repeated attempts to undermine democratic institutions—whether by discrediting elections, attacking the judiciary, or now, ignoring constitutional limits on pardons—show a clear trajectory toward authoritarianism.
Trump has repeatedly accused his political enemies of treason, but his own actions raise the real question: Is he the one betraying the country? When a leader refuses to acknowledge legal limits, disregards the Constitution, and seeks to rule without accountability, that is a fundamental betrayal of the nation’s principles. His attack on Biden’s pardons is just the latest example.
This should alarm every American, regardless of political affiliation. Today, it’s presidential pardons. Tomorrow, it could be something far worse. If Trump can ignore the Constitution when it suits him, there’s nothing stopping him from erasing other legal protections. A president who claims unlimited power is a direct threat to democracy itself.
The courts will almost certainly strike down Trump’s attempt to revoke these pardons. But that’s not the point. The fact that he even tried shows his intent. He is sending a message: He does not believe the law applies to him. That should terrify anyone who cares about the future of this country.
This isn’t just about Trump—it’s about the survival of American democracy. If he gets away with this, he will keep pushing further. His supporters may cheer now, but unchecked power is dangerous for everyone. Once democratic norms are shattered, they are difficult to restore.
The United States was founded on the rejection of kings and dictators. No president should be allowed to act like one. The time to push back is now. If we wait until Trump takes an even bigger step toward authoritarian rule, it may be too late.
History has shown us what happens when leaders believe they are above the law. It never ends well. If Americans want to preserve their democracy, they must make it clear—no one, not even Trump, is above the Constitution.
