Noah Feldman, Columnist

The Constitution Won't Stop President Trump

Radical ideas on trade and terror could find support -- and precedents -- in U.S. law.

May 5, 2016 at 1:29 PM UTC

Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. A professor of law at Harvard University, he is author, most recently, of “To Be a Jew Today: A New Guide to God, Israel, and the Jewish People."

Mexican border fence.
Photographer: John Moore/Getty Images

Provide news feedback or report an error

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

My 10-year old put it best: “First you said Trump wouldn’t win any primaries. Then you said he wouldn’t win the nomination. So why exactly are you so sure he won’t become president?” Given this reasonable question, it’s time to start asking: Is the Constitution in danger from a Donald Trump presidency? How far can he push the envelope of our constitutional structure and traditions?

To be clear, I’m not talking about who Trump would nominate to the Supreme Court. Though it’s worth noting that, unlike potential running mates who so far seem wary of a poisoned chalice, judicial nominees would probably be glad to serve if named by Trump. He’d already be president; and once confirmed, they’d no longer be beholden to the man who named them.