“Trump Will Destroy or Shred the Constitution”: Legal Scholar Warns of Looming Dangers in Potential Second Trump Presidency

In a recent interview, Norman Ornstein, a respected legal scholar, and Olivia Troye, a former Trump administration insider, expressed deep concerns over what they anticipate under a potential second Donald Trump presidency. Speaking with journalist Mehdi Hasan on Zeteo, Ornstein underscored the gravity of the current political climate, calling the upcoming election “the most significant and most destructive presidential election probably in our history.”

He argued that the United States has never faced a president who, from the outset, promises to operate as a dictator. “I think that this is the most significant and most destructive presidential election probably in our history,” Ornstein told Hasan. “Because, while we have elected bad presidents before – we’ve elected incompetent presidents before – we have not elected a president who has made clear during the campaign that he will be a dictator on day one and will destroy or shred the Constitution to whatever degree he feels it is necessary.”

Ornstein pointed to what he perceives as the fragility of America’s democratic safeguards, particularly as they face a challenge from what he described as “enablers” around Trump. Reflecting on these political dynamics, Ornstein expressed grave concerns for the resilience of America’s democratic institutions, told Raw Story.

“From the Supreme Court through the other institutions – my fear is not just Donald Trump – it is that the guardrails we have built up over two and a half centuries are not going to hold,” he said. Ornstein suggested that Trump’s influence would not be limited by traditional checks and balances, implying a future presidency marked by an erosion of institutional integrity.

Olivia Troye, a former national security adviser to then-Vice President Mike Pence and a current member of Republicans for Harris, agreed, adding that Trump’s inner circle, likely consisting of controversial figures like ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and recently pardoned right-wing strategist Steve Bannon, could prove dangerous. For Troye, the influence of such “loyalists and enablers” is nothing short of “frightening and appalling.”

“What I saw toward the end of the Trump administration was people of integrity and character that I had respected early on in it, I saw them start to change, and that I think is the concern is that there are no guardrails,” Troye said, recalling the shift in behavior among some of her former colleagues. Her experience, she explained, left her apprehensive not only for herself but also for others in public service and media.

In an alarming comment, Troye voiced her concerns about possible retribution for dissent, including her own outspoken criticism of the former president. “This is very real,” she noted. “And these people, you know, they don’t forget.” The conversation took a darker turn as Ornstein assessed the broader impact on American society, emphasizing the potential for democratic backsliding. He stopped short of predicting an absolute descent into dictatorship but warned that the country could come “damn close.”

“Maybe the worst won’t happen, but it’s going to be damn close,” Ornstein stated. He likened Trump’s political tactics to a “playbook of what dictators do,” cautioning that the challenges facing America’s democratic framework have never been as stark. Ornstein also noted that while some Americans were “gobsmacked” by the recent election results, he refrained from placing blame on Vice President Kamala Harris or her campaign efforts.

“I don’t think a different nominee would have done any better,” he said, reflecting on the unprecedented political dynamics shaping this election cycle. As the United States prepares for what may be one of the most consequential elections in its history, these insights from Ornstein and Troye serve as a stark reminder of the potential future risks to the nation’s foundational principles and democratic traditions.