U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted that his “own morality” is the only limit to his power as commander-in-chief, thus disregarding international law when it comes to attacking other countries, following criticism of the military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of the Latin American country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and around a hundred deaths.
When asked in an interview with The New York Times whether there were any limits to his power beyond the United States, Trump replied: “Yes, there’s one thing: my own morality, my own mind. That’s the only thing that can stop me.” “I don’t need international law,” he added.
When pressed on whether his administration should abide by international law, he responded that it already does, but made it clear that he would decide when such restrictions apply to the United States. He also questioned the “definition” of international law.
During the interview, Trump mentioned the “success” of his attack on the Iranian nuclear program, the speed with which he dismantled the visible structure of the Venezuelan government, and his plans for Greenland. Regarding the latter, he refused to answer whether he prefers to acquire this autonomous territory from Denmark or preserve NATO.
On why he needs to own this island, he maintained that “it’s what’s psychologically necessary for success,” since “ownership gives you something you can’t get with a lease or a treaty.” “Ownership is very important,” he summarized.
In his opinion, the importance of sovereignty and national borders is less significant than the role of the United States as protector of the West. He also dismissed the idea that Chinese President Xi Jinping or Russian President Vladimir Putin could use similar logic to his own to the detriment of the United States.
