Photograph Source: The White House – Public Domain

United States presidents are not known for telling the truth. From Thomas Jefferson’s denial of a relationship with the enslaved Sally Hemings onward, there has been no shortage of political distortions emanating from the Oval Office. President Donald Trump, however, has taken a different track. When asked by New York Times reporters whether there were any restraints on his global powers, the 45th and 47th president replied, “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.” “I don’t need international law,” he added.

There is something almost refreshing about Trump’s forthrightness. He says exactly what he means. Surprised by his violations of international law such as striking boats in international waters, killing survivors and abducting Venezuela’s president? Concerned that the United States military committed the war crime of perfidy by disguising one of its aircraft as a civilian plane in attacking a suspected drug-smuggling boat from Venezuela? Worried that he did not consult members of Congress before sending armed forces abroad? “He who saves his Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social in February 2025, “does not violate any Law.”

And Trump’s deeds back up his words. As the United States flexes its muscles in Venezuela and threatens other countries in the Western Hemisphere and beyond, the White House announced on January 7 its withdrawal from 66 international organizations associated with the United Nations system. Taken together, the assertiveness in Venezuela and retreat from multilateralism........

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