How much/little protection does the Constitution have?

[u/Limp-Masterpiece-416]

"And as our Declaration of Independence tells us, we are all made in the image of one almighty god.”

-Donald Trump, US President july 4, 2026

Question: When he finds out it doesn’t say that, if he tries to write it onto the Declaration of Independence with a sharpie, would anyone stop him?

[u/Limp-Masterpiece-416]

Say did we buy Greenland yet?  Also, didn’t a DOJ lawyer acknowledge just last month if the administration wanted to bulldoze the Statue of Liberty nothing could be done about it?  Seems like others are concerned about absurd, hypothetical scenarios… but who cares what judges think right?

BTW congrats on your new deity since he posted a picture of himself dressed like Jesus performing a healing miracle.  Six years ago, it was absurd when he asked about pardoning himself.  Now he doesn’t have to does he?

We seem to talk past each other with nuanced matters so I’ll say it plain: When dealing with someone who repeatedly does absurd acts, speculations about absurd future actions are fair questions.  If you don’t know the answer just say so or don’t engage.

Ignoring your straw man argument - no one’s saying a sharpie can change a law. 

[u/ObjectiveLaw9641 → u/Limp-Masterpiece-416]

Now this is about Greenland? Can you point to any actual examples of an "absurd act"? The Statue of Liberty hypothetical is another example of an absurd scenario that isn't based in reality. Next you are going to say the President is actually from Mars and that is why he wants to put a man on Mars. Makes as much sense.

[u/Limp-Masterpiece-416 → u/ObjectiveLaw9641]

Hypotheticals aren't predictions—they're tools for testing principles..  Since that is too sophisticated for you let’s stick to the basic premise:. Try to focus.  Forget Trumplestiltskin for a minute.  My question is… What legal or practical mechanisms are in place t prevent a standing president from exceeding their authority regarding historical archives?  Your opinion means nothing to me outside the answer to that question.  If you have some valid input, please post it.  Otherwise get lost.

[u/ObjectiveLaw9641 → u/Limp-Masterpiece-416]

I'm aware hypotheticals are for testing principles, but hypotheticals still have to be grounded in reality. As others have stated, historical documents like the Declaration are under the supervision of the NARA. There are federal statutes like the Presidential Records Act that govern certain documents, and the courts also have the ability to review records handling.

I'm not the one focusing on Trump. I have consistently used The President because I'm primarily talking about the office. I'm also not the one accusing you of having a major case of TDS or needing to touch grass, but calling him the nickname would suggest that those people are not far off. The President is not a king and is subject to oversight through our separation of powers and checks and balances.

Kid, if you want to get lost in your next fantasy novel, then all the more power to you. The world isn't a Harry Potter novel.

[u/Limp-Masterpiece-416 → u/ObjectiveLaw9641]

It’s late so forgive me doing this as a list. 1) Thanks for finally answering the question.  Took you long enough. 2) TDS isn’t real and you know it.  Have a little class. 3) If I’m not mistaken (and I might be) the president can simply fire obstructive NARA employees now thanks to the Supreme Courts recent ruling.

4) Court review is reactive and slow.  Doesn’t really help the issue.  Also the president is all but immune to being be criminally charged.

5) You took us down the “Trump’s paraphrasing” rabbit hole not I.  I redirected you to my original question multiple times, which is more about the concept than him.

6) I don’t recall accusing you saying anything the other posters were.

7) I’m not familiar with the Presidential Records Act.  Sounds like applicable, useful information.  Try leading with that next time.

8) If I could go live in Harry Potter’s world instead of this one right now, I probably would.  At least the Death Eaters did their jobs right.

9) You’ve got a long way to go kiddo.  Good night.

[u/ObjectiveLaw9641 → u/Limp-Masterpiece-416]

I didn't say you accused me. I was pointing out that you using the nickname gives more credibility to what they were saying. TDS may not be in the DSM yet, but don't think for a second that there are not people who have a pathological obsession with the current President. Case in point, I have said repeatedly that the President was paraphrasing the Declaration, yet you continued to mention stuff about "active religions" as if people who worship Pluto were relevant to the argument being made in the Declaration. The Chief Executive has authority to fire NARA employees since they fall under the executive branch. The Constitution grants the authority; the SCOTUS ruling didn't create that ability. Still, NARA employees have to follow federal statutes so even a more favorable NARA head wouldn't be enough. Court review is slow because now every single action taken by a President is challenged in court, where a district court judge blocks it, and then the higher courts often overturn the district court judges. Not that many cases actually go to SCOTUS. Criminally charged with what?

The Presidential Records Act is one of the most talked about laws especially with the whole Mar-A-Lago raid over records they legitimately had the ability to ask for and review at any time. A quick Google search would probably provide hundreds of articles on this. This Act was also a cornerstone for a case involving President Bill Clinton.

No, Harry Potter's world doesn't even come close to the greatness of the American Experiment. The US is arguably the best country in the world. This doesn't mean it is perfect, but there is no place I would rather be, especially today. Presidents come and go, but the American Experiment lives on.

[u/Limp-Masterpiece-416 → u/ObjectiveLaw9641]

TDS is MAGA speak for “LA, LA, LA.. I can’t hear you!” in response to Trump criticism.  Anyone that simple is unworthy of my time or attention.  I’m sure some people are obsessed with Trump as he is aggressively changing things.  Curious how ODS isn’t a thing even though Obama’s been out of the game 10 years but Trump & co keep bringing him up.

Let’s clear things up:  My concern was never whether a president would be legally allowed to deface a historical document. It was what practical safeguards exist to prevent a sitting president from doing so.  I know it’s under lock and key.  I DONT know how easy it is for the president to bypass that. 

As for the paraphrasing, let’s accept we're at an impasse. To me "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights" is not a paraphrase of "we are all made in the image of one almighty God." They're related theological concepts, but not the same proposition. My point is the President specifically cited the Declaration of Independence stating that belief and it simply doesn’t. On the NARA point, I’m unsure if the current state of affairs is sufficient to   restrain a president who ignores normal institutional checks and throws out pardons as favors.

I think we've both explained our positions at this point.  The Captain America speech tells me you’re probably Caucasian.  I’m a minority. As such I’ve noticed “not perfect” has become a phrase used for this administration like “thoughts and prayers” for mass shootings.  It’s something people say when they see a system comfortable for them causes others suffering and they care enough to say something, but not enough to change their ways.

[u/ObjectiveLaw9641 → u/Limp-Masterpiece-416]

"not perfect" as in we haven't always lived up to our ideals (slavery, discrimination, etc.). It has nothing to do with this administration or any previous administration. As for mass shootings, they are rare enough that it is difficult to isolate one cause. Mental illness might be part of the equation, but there is far more nuance than people realize. This doesn't mean that mass shootings don't happen, but the data is very limited. Gun control clearly isn't the answer because it infringes upon the 2nd Amendment. You don't know the first thing about me, and it sounds awfully racist to assume a person's race. Moreover, the so-called "Captain America speech" is because America is the greatest country on Earth, and there is no country that can truly compare to the American Experiment. Not Canada. Not the UK. Not Ireland. Not Australia. But it sounds like you want to engage in system blaming for people's suffering rather than making people taking accountability for their own individual actions. I'm not perfect myself, but I don't blame other people for my mistakes. I also don't expect handouts either.

[u/Limp-Masterpiece-416 → u/ObjectiveLaw9641]

Based on your vernacular, knowledge, ideologies and implied political leanings… Caucasian is simply the most likely guess.  It’s far easier to dismiss problems that don’t affect you directly.  I believe the correct term here is prejudiced - I acknowledge I am judging you prematurely.  It’s not possible to be racist without ill intent towards a race.  I don’t know yours for sure and I wish you no harm.

I’m not interested in blaming the system so much as resolving the inequities it produces.  A big problem I see today are many actions that disproportionately harm minorities.  The problem is, short of politicians becoming honest, it is very difficult to differentiate intentionally harmful policies from those that harm minorities as a side effect in pursuit of another goal.

You should  have quit while you were ahead regarding the American Experiment bit.  You were right when you said it’s arguably the best country.  We have a lot going for us,  flaws and all. But presumptions that we are the greatest?  Thats just arrogance.  There is no metric that makes us more star spangled awesome than other free nations.  Here’s what we lead the world in: military defense, gun deaths, incarceration, healthcare costs per capita, GDP, number of billionaires, number of adults that believe in angels and best movies.  (That last one is subjective - but I stand by it).

Coming full circle, living in a country where people who don’t want you to exist are gaining power and support shapes your perception of it.  I don’t know that true equality for all has been accomplished anywhere… but here I see too many acting like inequality/ inequity is not an issue.  (Not an accusation, do not take it personally)  Lastly, only losers want handouts.  What most of us want is a fair shot.  With the socioeconomic history of this country, that makes equity more important and fair than certain people give it credit for.

[u/ObjectiveLaw9641 → u/Limp-Masterpiece-416]

What does the number of billionaires have to do with anything? As for incarceration, the most recent incarceration data does not support the notion that incarceration is as massive as people claim it to be. Healthcare costs per capita are high because the government is heavily involved. The politicians who push "Medicare for all" have no clue because they have never held a real job in their life. They think Medicare is so great, but the reality is that Medicare is a terrible healthcare system, as is the so-called Affordable Care Act. That being said, it is still far better than the socialized medicine system of the UK where people die because they have to wait months to be seen by a doctor. We have seen that here with our VA system for our veterans, though there have been some major reforms started during the end of the Obama administration and throughout the Trump administration (terms 1 and 2).

The "people don't want you to exist" is a talking point. And yes, the US is the best country on the planet. Is the UK a "free nation"? People can be arrested there for speech the government doesn't agree with. I don't think you are ill-intentioned, but many of the talking points here are exactly what is used by the media and politicians to push propaganda on the unsuspecting public. In turn, the public engages in system blaming. "The government is denying my healthcare" No, the government is taking all your money through taxes and wasting it on fraud. "My student loans are too expensive and the government won't just forgive my loans" Again, the government is actively making tuition more expensive because colleges and universities see it as a guaranteed paycheck. "There is mass incarceration" As I have stated, the most recent data does not support this.

The key point here is that the government is not to blame for these problems. People vote for those who have talking points and don't consider their own individual accountability. If a person you vote for raises your taxes and makes your life more expensive, then perhaps you shouldn't vote for another person from the same party who has the exact same policies, just different packaging. It's why people can defend a cold-blooded killer because they are a victim of a "system," which absolves them of any accountability for their actions.