Donald Trump's Call to 'Terminate' Constitution Sparks Fury

Donald Trump has sparked a furious backlash after he called for the "termination" of parts of the Constitution to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The former president, who announced in November that he would run again for president, reiterated his baseless claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election in posts on his Truth Social platform on Saturday.

But he went further by suggesting that the U.S. abandon one of its founding documents.

"A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution," Trump wrote in response to Elon Musk's "Twitter Files."

Musk had claimed the files would reveal how the social media platform had suppressed a New York Post story about Hunter Biden prior to the 2020 election. However, some people described them as a "snoozefest" that did not bring to light anything that was not already known about the platform's handling of the story.

Trump's reaction prompted a wave of criticism, including from the White House.

The U.S. Constitution "is a sacrosanct document that for over 200 years has guaranteed that freedom and the rule of law prevail in our great country," White House spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement to Newsweek.

"The Constitution brings the American people together—regardless of party—and elected leaders swear to uphold it. It's the ultimate monument to all of the Americans who have given their lives to defeat self-serving despots that abused their power and trampled on fundamental rights.

"Attacking the Constitution and all it stands for is anathema to the soul of our nation, and should be universally condemned. You cannot only love America when you win."

On Twitter, lawmakers also slammed Trump for his comments.

Rep. Ritchie Torres tweeted: "Donald Trump wants to suspend the Constitution in the name of protecting the Constitution, just like he perpetrated election fraud in the name of preventing election fraud."

In another tweet, Torres wrote that the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol was Trump's "attempt at terminating the US Constitution. He's a repeat offender."

Rep. Ted Lieu tagged GOP leader Kevin McCarthy in a tweet, writing: "Remember your blockbuster, visionary idea of reading the Constitution from the Floor of the House? You should make sure the man you kowtow to, Donald Trump, watches. Oh and are you going to say anything about Trump's anti-American and fascist proposal?"

Donald Trump wants to suspend the Constitution in the name of protecting the Constitution, just like he perpetrated election fraud in the name of preventing election fraud. — Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) December 4, 2022

Dear @GOPLeader: Remember your blockbuster, visionary idea of reading the Constitution from the Floor of the House? You should make sure the man you kowtow to, Donald Trump, watches.

Oh and are you going to say anything about Trump’s anti-American and fascist proposal? https://t.co/xUm4V76q7F — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) December 4, 2022

Rep. Eric Swalwell wrote that every congressional reporter "should demand responses from Congressional Republicans about Donald Trump's call for the Constitution to be terminated ... how many of them called themselves 'Constitutional conservatives' during the Obama years???"

Singer Barbra Streisand also hit out at Trump, saying he "sounds crazier than ever."

She wrote: "He now wants to suspend the Constitution and be declared President. Or maybe dictator for life."

Newsweek has contacted the Trump campaign and the White House for comment.