• Trump questioned whether everyone on US soil deserves due process rights.
• His comments suggest potential impediments to his mass deportation agenda.
• Experts assert the Fifth Amendment guarantees due process for all, including noncitizens.
• Legal and political experts criticize his disregard for constitutional obligations.
• Trump's remarks highlight ongoing tensions with the judiciary regarding immigration policies.

In a recent NBC interview, President Donald Trump expressed uncertainty about whether all individuals on American soil are entitled to due process, despite explicit constitutional guarantees. When questioned by Kristen Welker about agreeing with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on this issue, Trump replied, “I don’t know. I’m not, I’m not a lawyer. I don’t know.” He cited concerns that following these due process requirements would slow his mass deportation efforts, stating, “If you’re talking about that, then we’d have to have a million or two million or three million trials,” highlighting his frustration over judicial constraints on his policies, according to The New York Times, India Times, and ABC News.

As the conversation progressed, Welker reminded Trump that the Fifth Amendment contains provisions for due process, to which Trump replied again, “I don’t know.” His comments were particularly alarming to legal experts, who emphasize that the Fifth Amendment protects rights for all persons, not just citizens. Michael Gerhardt, a constitutional law expert, pointed out that even figures like Justice Scalia affirmed that documented and undocumented individuals afford due process rights in legal proceedings, according to The New York Times and ABC News.

Criticism from both legal scholars and politicians has intensified, suggesting Trump’s remarks signal a concerning trend of disregarding constitutional duties. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer labeled his approach “un-American,” while others, including Republican Senator Rand Paul, reminded the public that adherence to the Constitution is imperative for governance. Legal expert David Leopold highlighted the dangers of disregarding due process, equating it to authoritarian practices, and emphasized that America is founded on constitutional principles, contrasting Trump's stance with traditional presidential conduct, according to India Times and ABC News.