
President Donald Trump appeared in the Oval Office with the Secretary General of NATO Tuesday afternoon, and re-issued his threat to close the southern U.S. border to Mexico.
But it was his description of the situation – and what he sees as wholly acceptable goals – that was stunning.
"What we have to do is Congress has to meet quickly, and make a deal," Trump said to reporters. "I could do it in 45 minutes," he claimed, which is false, given his track record.
"We need to get rid of chain migration, we need to get rid of catch and release, and visa lottery, and we have to do something with asylum, and to be honest with you – have to get rid of judges," Trump said casually, not realizing – or not caring – that he is literally talking about taking away civil rights, the civil rights of people who are fleeing violence, gangs, drugs, and oppression.
"Every time you catch somebody that's come illegally into your country, and they bring them to a court," Trump railed, again attacking civil rights.
Many on social media expressed concern.
"to be honest with you, we have to get rid of judges" ought to scare the shit out of everybody https://t.co/QL6vNpkbBO— Covidiocracy (@Covidiocracy)1554231508.0
This shit is alarming, “we have to get rid of judges” isn’t some offhand remark, it’s textbook authoritarian shit https://t.co/GnwilEdym7— Yung Buñuelo (@Yung Buñuelo)1554231532.0
..."we have to get rid of judges." Let that sink in, folks. https://t.co/3HamRiLD7b— upandatthem (@upandatthem)1554231639.0
"to be honest with you, we have to get rid of judges." Yep. Super, totally normal thing for a president of the USA… https://t.co/0Gy4r54Oq5— Brandon Beasley (@Brandon Beasley)1554231500.0
We have to get rid of judges. There you go. Full-blown authoritarian nutjob. https://t.co/evi309aEbD— Joshua Holland 🔥 (@Joshua Holland 🔥)1554231233.0
"We have to get rid of judges." Yeah. That's how the Constitution works. El Presidente just "gets rid of judges".… https://t.co/16Okkh5tg1— Roshan Rinaldi (@Roshan Rinaldi)1554230937.0
@atrupar "We have to get rid of judges." Oh. Ok. https://t.co/uV7efmNb1g— HillaryS (@HillaryS)1554230374.0