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Are Checks and Balances on
Trump Bad Now, According to Musk and Vance?
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Some observers believe that Elon Musk and JD Vance's comments suggest
that the checks and balances on President Trump have become bad.
The Republican Party has rightly claimed to be the party that defends
the judicial system in recent years. However, Vance and Musk are seriously
undermining trust in this system in our country.
I am concerned, and you should be too. Judicial review is an essential
element of our republic.
Musk is right, but not in the way he thinks. We don't live in a
traditional democracy; we live in a constitutional republic. Our nation is
subject to the Constitution, not the whims of the majority at any given moment.
That's why we have stricter checks on the executive branch. The
judiciary is the primary check on presidential overreach, especially in recent
years, where executive actions have surpassed those taken by Congress.
The judicial ruling that sparked Musk and Vance's comments was the one
issued by US District Judge Paul Engelmayer, which temporarily barred Musk's
government efficiency administration from accessing Treasury Department data.
It's one of several rulings against Trump. You may disagree with this
ruling, but I question its validity to some extent. However, this decision must
be challenged through proper channels, not through blatant disregard for the
legal process.
The Trump administration should focus on appealing the case through the
judiciary, possibly to the US Supreme Court, to establish a lasting outcome.
Instead, Musk and Vance are undermining the rule of law in our country.
After criticizing Democrats for doing the same thing for years, both are
hinting at moving forward in a disturbing direction. Any enhancement of
judicial power to block executive action must come from within the judiciary
itself.
Musk might be naive, but Vance is deliberate. As a novice in politics,
the South African-born American citizen may not yet comprehend the intricate
structure of our republic.
This reality is alarming for several reasons, but Vance's comments are
particularly concerning due to his competence and previous statements.
"As President Andrew Jackson did, stand before the country and say,
'The chief justice has made his ruling; now let him enforce it.'" Vance
said in 2021.
The vice president is an intelligent man. He recognizes that blatantly
disregarding judicial rulings would encourage Democrats to do the same.
When the only test of a ruling's validity is the president's
interpretation, any unfavorable ruling becomes instantly invalid. Vance knows
this behavior would lead to the downfall of our republic.
Trump, a great admirer of Jackson's populist ruling, has a picture of
the seventh president in the Oval Office. Let's hope Trump has someone advising
him against such reckless actions. Fortunately, some of Trump's supporters are
among his critics. However, I'm not holding my breath.
At the very least, this administration has been tampering with the rule
of law, preferring radical action over caution regarding its legitimacy. I'm
concerned about what's to come and hope Trump doesn't follow the path his vice
president has suggested.